can bozo win with Ash?-preview

[enicmt]

2007 BIG SKY PREVIEW: Cats need smooth transition
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian



Offense

An offseason of upheaval didn't stop with coach Mike Kramer's exit. The offensive line lost projected starting guards Louis Saucedo (grades) and Adam DeCock (left the program) and running back Evin Groves (knee injury). “It's pretty weird to still be recruiting in July,” Ash said last month. “I've never had to do that before.” He was looking for linemen and a running back, but there is talent. Aaron Mason (5-10, 181) ran for 645 yards and nine touchdowns last season; center Jeff Hansen (6-4, 286) and left tackle Peder Jensen (6-6, 279) are standouts; and the receiving crew has leaders in Josh Lewis (5-11, 160) and Deon Toliver (6-3, 185), if not Ty Lulay (6-0, 185) and tight end Elliott Barnhart (6-3, 227). Jack Rolovich threw for 253 of the 700 yards MSU rolled up in its fall scrimmage on Aug. 18.

Defense


There is plenty to like, from tackles Aaron Papich (6-2, 272) and Brandon Hoffenbacker (6-3, 315) to linebackers Will Clagett (6-1, 226), Epikopo King (6-0, 214) and Bobby Daly. “My defensive coordinator was thrilled to see the linebackers that we have now in this program,” said Ash. “He was like, ‘Ok, we can live with this. They'll be good.' ” The questions are in the secondary, but cornerback Kory Austin (5-11, 184) returns, and Michael Beach (6-0, 194) made a pair of starts as well. At safety, UNLV transfer Jeff Brown has big shoes to fill in the graduated Ryan Force, but MSU is well-stocked. “It's a little bit stressful,” Clagett allowed. “If we had young players, we'd be a little bit more nervous. But we don't.”

Bobcat data

Forecast: Third by the coaches, fourth by the media

2006: 8-5, 6-2 in the Big Sky Conference.

Starters returning: 12

Coach: Rob Ash, 1st season (0-0)

Quote: “My hiring press conference was on June 11, and that was Day 1 of the Montana State football program as far as I'm concerned. The past is the past. We feel like we just need to move ahead, keep our focus forward.”

- Rob Ash

Notable: The Bobcats are 29-14 in Big Sky games over the past six seasons. That's the second-best mark in the league in that span, to Montana's 36-7.

Quotebook: “Our front seven is solid. I think any scheme you put us into, I think we'll be fine. We've got enough good athletes, enough smart athletes. That's going to be the strength of this team.”

- LB Will Clagett

Stud to watch: QB Jack Rolovich (6-2, 223) split time with Cory Carpenter last season, but started the final seven games, including MSU's first playoff win (over Furman) since 1984. He threw for 1,674 yards.

Pay attention to: LB Bobby Daly (6-1, 229). The former walk-on from Helena logged Big Sky Conference bests of 121 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss in 2006.

Bottom line

The fired Kramer didn't leave the cupboard bare for incoming coach Rob Ash. But the lack of face time for the new coach means the Bobcats will still have growing pains.

[AZGrizFan]

I'm gonna guess MSU loses to NAU, PSU and UM.

[MrTitleist]

I'm gonna guess MSU loses to NAU, PSU and UM.

And TAMU

[lifesapuntreturn]

I'm gonna guess MSU loses to NAU, PSU and UM.

And TAMU

Given all of the events since the end of last season, if Ash goes 7-4 overall and 5-3 in the BSC this season, I'd say that's an impressive job.

[xtremegriz]

MSU will finish 4th in the BSC behind NAU PSU and UM.

[AZGrizFan]

I'm gonna guess MSU loses to NAU, PSU and UM.

And TAMU

True dat, but I was just talking in-conference.

[GOKATS]

The Cats return a lot of talent and Ash has put together a helluva staff in a short time and is extremely organized- fall camp is going really well. I think a lot of folks are going to be surprised by the Cats this year. I wouldn't have said it even a month ago, but I can now see a 2-1 OCC (loss to T A&M) and 6-2 conference for an 8-3 finish, but 7-4 wouldn't be a disappointment considering the cart got overturned after spring ball. Cats won't finish lower than third, more likely a tie for second.

Injuries can change the scenario for any team in a heartbeat.