2012 Big Sky Predictions

[AZGrizFan]

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

please elaborate.

You know. The O-line woes.

[Grizalltheway]

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

Define "woes". They're certainly "unproven", but in fall scrimmages certainly held their own against their own defense and improved steadily since spring. Definitely some talent in there, but no one will no for certain until the games start next Thursday. A question mark? Definitely. A woe? No. Woeful was three years ago when our entire kicking staff was down with the flu for the trip to EWU. Our kicking game that day was woeful.

I remember a day in late November last year that was pretty woeful, too.

[AZGrizFan]

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

Define "woes". They're certainly "unproven", but in fall scrimmages certainly held their own against their own defense and improved steadily since spring. Definitely some talent in there, but no one will no for certain until the games start next Thursday. A question mark? Definitely. A woe? No. Woeful was three years ago when our entire kicking staff was down with the flu for the trip to EWU. Our kicking game that day was woeful.

OK. I'll define "woe". See EWU's offensive line problems LAST year. That'll be MSU THIS year once you have the inevitable injuries hit like EWU did.

You're O-line is thinner than Kelly Ripa.

[kittiekop]

Define "woes". They're certainly "unproven", but in fall scrimmages certainly held their own against their own defense and improved steadily since spring. Definitely some talent in there, but no one will no for certain until the games start next Thursday. A question mark? Definitely. A woe? No. Woeful was three years ago when our entire kicking staff was down with the flu for the trip to EWU. Our kicking game that day was woeful.

I remember a day in late November last year that was pretty woeful, too.

Poor kid, always living in the past Focus - GATW said woeful concerning this year's O Line. Did you miss reading comprehension in that institution of fine arts and interpretive dance they call a univeristy?

[Grizalltheway]

I remember a day in late November last year that was pretty woeful, too.

Poor kid, always living in the past Focus - GATW said woeful concerning this year's O Line. Did you miss reading comprehension in that institution of fine arts and interpretive dance they call a univeristy?

I didn't say anything about your O-line. Now, hop on that short bus and go make us proud, kittie.

[Catattack]

Define "woes". They're certainly "unproven", but in fall scrimmages certainly held their own against their own defense and improved steadily since spring. Definitely some talent in there, but no one will no for certain until the games start next Thursday. A question mark? Definitely. A woe? No. Woeful was three years ago when our entire kicking staff was down with the flu for the trip to EWU. Our kicking game that day was woeful.

OK. I'll define "woe". See EWU's offensive line problems LAST year. That'll be MSU THIS year once you have the inevitable injuries hit like EWU did.

You're O-line is thinner than Kelly Ripa.

16 is thin ? I seem to have read that if there are any injuries to the Griz starting O-lineman that things could get woeful also.

[AZGrizFan]

OK. I'll define "woe". See EWU's offensive line problems LAST year. That'll be MSU THIS year once you have the inevitable injuries hit like EWU did.

You're O-line is thinner than Kelly Ripa.

16 is thin ? I seem to have read that if there are any injuries to the Griz starting O-lineman that things could get woeful also.

The element of the offense that will make it just as effective from a big-picture perspective, of course, is the team’s offensive front. That group, historically one of the most productive and decorated in the FCS, has taken questions – if not hits – from all sides in recent months. The loss of four full-time starters and another with considerable experience from last year’s team gives the group a veneer of youth.

Ash, again, bucks conventional wisdom. “People have been talking about how young our offensive line is, but we have two fifth-year seniors starting. That’s not necessarily young.” Those fifth-year seniors, center Shaun Sampson and tight end transplant Steven Foster at tackle, give the Bobcat O-line strong anchors on the interior and exterior. Surrounding them, however, are a lot of young guys. Sophomore Quinn Catalano and redshirt freshman Matt Devereux appear in line to take over at guard, with redshirt freshman John Weidenaar standing opposite Foster at tackle.

It is when 10 of those are freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
It is when only one of the upper classmen tops 300 lbs (and he's a transfer with a new OC).
It is when 3 of the 5 are new to the line.
It is when your starting center goes 6'0", 268.
It is when your only other returning starter is a converted TE and goes 6'5", 268 (that's thin, LITERALLY).
It is when your presumed replacement players go 6'4", 278; 6'3", 287; 6'7", 277.

Seriously, that might be the smallest offensive line in FCS. And God help you if one or two of your starters go down with injuries.

[BigSkyBears]

Here they are…

• Best Rushing Offense - Montana St.
  Worst Rushing Offense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Passing Offense - Eastern Washington
  Worst Passing Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Overall Offense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Overall Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Run Defense - North Dakota
  Worst Run Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Pass Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Pass Defense - Cal Poly
  
  Best Overall Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Overall Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Special Teams - Eastern Washington
  Worst Special Teams - Sacramento St.
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback - Denarius McGhee (MSU)
  Best Running Back - Zach Bauman
  Best Wide Receiver - Rodrick Rumble (ISU)
  Best Tight End - Josh Hill (ISU)
  Best WR/TE Corps - Eastern Washington
  Best Offensive Lineman - Danny Kistler (UMT)
  Best Offensive Line - Portland St.
  
  Best Defensive Lineman - Zach Minter (MSU)
  Best Defensive Line - Montana St.
  Best Linebacker - Clarence Bumpas (UNC)
  Best LB Corps - Montana
  Best Defensive Back - Matt Hermanson (UMT)
  Best Secondary - Montana St.
  
  Best Kicker - Zach Brown (PSU)
  Best Punter - Jake Miller (EWU)
  Best Ret. Specialist - Dominic Gunn (UNC)
  Best Return Team - Montana

I agree with just about every on your list, but I would disagree with the LB corps. I like UNC's as the best. Willingham (4 star recruit), Bumpas (all-american) Cameron Friend (all-conference HM), Herve Tonye (Drafted by the CFL's Argonauts), Dominick Sierra (a JC transfer, pushing our 4 star LB for a starting position).

[JackParty]

It is going to be a great season. I will know alot more after Thursday nights opener against ASU.

1. NAU
2.MSU
3.EWU
4.Montana
5.Cal Poly

[Grizalltheway]

[Screamin_Eagle174]

It is going to be a great season. I will know alot more after Thursday nights opener against ASU.

1. NAU
2.MSU
3.EWU
4.Montana
5.Cal Poly

You've just breached the line into SH territory.

[SUUThunder]

My prediction on the top 5:

Montana
Cal Poly
Montana State
Portland State
Eastern Washington

I think that's about right, with a few different teams having a shot to get in there as well. There's a bunch of teams that have the ability to break into that top 5, too. Just gotta see how it pans out. I like Cal Poly, they have a really nice schedule, so out of all the expansion teams I think they have the best shot of being a top 3 team. SUU has a great Qb, so they could also make some waves. Don't know enough about UND or Davis, but I do think that the expansion teams will come to realize that overall, an 8 game conference schedule in the Big Sky will be a little tougher than what they faced in the Great West. I don't see any of them being doormats, though. Should be really interesting.


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Well put on both counts above imho. It's hard to argue with Cal Poly's schedule... If they don't finish in the top 3 or 4 it'll be a failure.

As for SUU, yes we do have a beast of a QB and I beam with pride over the guy but then again, we were a Great West team in his previous seasons so who knows what we will look like after a full run through a Big Sky season. I do also think that SUU has one of the toughest schedules in BSC play this year. (Not to mention opening games at Utah State Aggies and Cal Bears.) If SUU can crack the top 5 or better I'll consider it a success.

[Mvemjsunpx]

Here they are…

• Best Rushing Offense - Montana St.

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

[Mvemjsunpx]

I agree with just about every on your list, but I would disagree with the LB corps. I like UNC's as the best. Willingham (4 star recruit), Bumpas (all-american) Cameron Friend (all-conference HM), Herve Tonye (Drafted by the CFL's Argonauts), Dominick Sierra (a JC transfer, pushing our 4 star LB for a starting position).

Bumpas is the best individually, but I like Montana's combination of Tripp, Kanongata'a, and Coyle more than what NoCo's got.

[Grizalltheway]

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

What exactly about Weber's backfield makes it better than ours?

[kalm]

I agree with just about every on your list, but I would disagree with the LB corps. I like UNC's as the best. Willingham (4 star recruit), Bumpas (all-american) Cameron Friend (all-conference HM), Herve Tonye (Drafted by the CFL's Argonauts), Dominick Sierra (a JC transfer, pushing our 4 star LB for a starting position).

Bumpas is the best individually, but I like Montana's combination of Tripp, Kanongata'a, and Coyle more than what NoCo's got.

Tyler Washburn (3 year starter), Zach Johnson (Twin brother Matt was a 4th round pick to the Cowboys and if healthy could have a Sherritt type year, David Gaylord (now listed at LB, like Wash, has started off and on for three years (DE)and made several big plays in the championship run), Cody McCarthy (recruited by Boise, turned down an offer from Army with good size, great motor, and quite a bit of experience as a true freshman)

I'm not saying we will have the best LB corps but I really like where were at.

[Mvemjsunpx]

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

What exactly about Weber's backfield makes it better than ours?

Josh Booker averaged 5.9 ypc last year and C.J. Tuckett averaged 7.9.

[Grizalltheway]

Point taken.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Perhaps you haven't been paying attention to MSU's O-line woes.

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

I thought NAU got a Cal transfer RB to go behind Bauman?

[Mvemjsunpx]

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

I thought NAU got a Cal transfer RB to go behind Bauman?

I actually wasn't aware of that (I usually rely on boastful message board posts for that kind of info, but NAU's is a ghost town). That should help them a little, though the guy didn't play a whole lot in Berkeley.

I'm actually gonna change my choice up above…

[Mvemjsunpx]

(I changed my pick for best rushing offense, thanks to SE's info.)

• Best Rushing Offense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Rushing Offense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Passing Offense - Eastern Washington
  Worst Passing Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Overall Offense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Overall Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Run Defense - North Dakota
  Worst Run Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Pass Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Pass Defense - Cal Poly
  
  Best Overall Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Overall Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Special Teams - Eastern Washington
  Worst Special Teams - Sacramento St.
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback - Denarius McGhee (MSU)
  Best Running Back - Zach Bauman
  Best Wide Receiver - Rodrick Rumble (ISU)
  Best Tight End - Josh Hill (ISU)
  Best WR/TE Corps - Eastern Washington
  Best Offensive Lineman - Danny Kistler (UMT)
  Best Offensive Line - Portland St.
  
  Best Defensive Lineman - Zach Minter (MSU)
  Best Defensive Line - Montana St.
  Best Linebacker - Clarence Bumpas (UNC)
  Best LB Corps - Montana
  Best Defensive Back - Matt Hermanson (UMT)
  Best Secondary - Montana St.
  
  Best Kicker - Zach Brown (PSU)
  Best Punter - Jake Miller (EWU)
  Best Ret. Specialist - Dominic Gunn (UNC)
  Best Return Team - Montana

[kalm]

(I changed my pick for best rushing offense, thanks to SE's info.)

• Best Rushing Offense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Rushing Offense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Passing Offense - Eastern Washington
  Worst Passing Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Overall Offense - Northern Arizona
  Worst Overall Offense - Sacramento St.
  
  Best Run Defense - North Dakota
  Worst Run Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Pass Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Pass Defense - Cal Poly
  
  Best Overall Defense - Montana St.
  Worst Overall Defense - Idaho St.
  
  Best Special Teams - Eastern Washington
  Worst Special Teams - Sacramento St.
  
  
  
  Best Quarterback - Denarius McGhee (MSU)
  Best Running Back - Zach Bauman
  Best Wide Receiver - Rodrick Rumble (ISU)
  Best Tight End - Josh Hill (ISU)
  Best WR/TE Corps - Eastern Washington
  Best Offensive Lineman - Danny Kistler (UMT)
  Best Offensive Line - Portland St.
  
  Best Defensive Lineman - Zach Minter (MSU)
  Best Defensive Line - Montana St.
  Best Linebacker - Clarence Bumpas (UNC)
  Best LB Corps - Montana
  Best Defensive Back - Matt Hermanson (UMT)
  Best Secondary - Montana St.
  
  Best Kicker - Zach Brown (PSU)
  Best Punter - Jake Miller (EWU)
  Best Ret. Specialist - Dominic Gunn (UNC)
  Best Return Team - Montana

I know Rumble has put up some gawdy numbers but I'm surprised you have him ahead of either Kaufmann or Edwards. Or do you see them bogarting each others stats.

[JackParty]

There are 4 teams that are about even there. MSU & Weber probably have the best backfields, but have O-Line questions. Those two teams historically have talent up front, though, & I gave the nod to MSU because their backfield's a little deeper. NAU should have an improved O-Line & they've got the best RB in the league, but there's absolutely nothing behind him. Montana probably has the best O-Line of the four, but I don't think their backfield is quite as good as Weber's or MSU's, and they don't have a Baumann either.

I thought NAU got a Cal transfer RB to go behind Bauman?

His name is Covaugn DeBoskie and he was one of the top recruits out of AZ. He got stuck behind a couple of great backs at Cal who are now in the NFL. He did play and he will be a force in the Big Sky. Also something people will find out very quickly they have a great FB (FBS transfer) and their top reciever from 2 years ago was injured last year and did not play. He is blazing fast and has been converted to a tailback. They by far will have the best rushing attack in FCS.

As far as having nothing behind that? Their Defense again bolstered by FBS transfers and guys who were hurt last year and didn't get to play will do some Damage. Their top LB from last year got hurt in the 1st quarter of the Portland State game. He had a monster game against U of A. They are big, fast and tough. I am looking forward to seeing their new DE from Boise rip some QB's.

Everyone is going by what NAU has done in the past. The past is gone.
This is a new team, new coaches, new attitude and a sh#& load of athleticism.

[Grizalltheway]

I thought NAU got a Cal transfer RB to go behind Bauman?

His name is Covaugn DeBoskie and he was one of the top recruits out of AZ. He got stuck behind a couple of great backs at Cal who are now in the NFL. He did play and he will be a force in the Big Sky. Also something people will find out very quickly they have a great FB (FBS transfer) and their top reciever from 2 years ago was injured last year and did not play. He is blazing fast and has been converted to a tailback. They by far will have the best rushing attack in FCS.

As far as having nothing behind that? Their Defense again bolstered by FBS transfers and guys who were hurt last year and didn't get to play will do some Damage. Their top LB from last year got hurt in the 1st quarter of the Portland State game. He had a monster game against U of A. They are big, fast and tough. I am looking forward to seeing their new DE from Boise rip some QB's.

Everyone is going by what NAU has done in the past. The past is gone.
This is a new team, new coaches, new attitude and a sh#& load of athleticism.

Yeah, but you have Mr. Souers...nuff said.

[JackParty]

Ya he coached at Montana. But now he has Charlie Huff former NFL player 49's and falcons with the cornerbacks and Scangarello as his OC who coached with the Raiders and Jeff lewis coaching the WR's 4th round draft pick of the Broncos.
They have made a major impact on this program.