Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

[KUlawJack]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Im sure the jacks have a great Defense, but i highly doubt that its better than Montana State boobcats defense.

When people make these types of statements, I always wonder how to quantify, so I looked to statistics since its the only way I really can do it. What I found didn't shock me in the slightest. SDSU has a much better defense than Montana State.

Rushing Defense - Montana State 7th; Montana 8th; SDSU 23rd

Pass Efficiency Defense - SDSU 1st; Monana 47th; Montana State 82nd

Scoring Defense (the one that counts the most IMO) - SDSU 5th; Montana 19th; Montana State 51st

Total Defense - SDSU 16th; Montana 58th; Montana State 61st

Turnover Margin - Montana 20th; SDSU 30th; Montana State 86th.

The last statistic is obviously a tie to both sides of the ball. This little inquiry demonstrates that SDSU's defense is statistically better than both Montana and Montana State. That's all I have. It should be a great game on Saturday.

[SDSU_TUBA]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Im sure the jacks have a great Defense, but i highly doubt that its better than Montana State boobcats defense.

Western State - 84th defense in Division II.
UC Davis - 54th defense Montana scored 17
Portland State - 107th defense
Northern Arizona - 100th defense
Cal Poly - 102nd defense
Eastern Washington - 109th defense
Sacremento State - 116th defense
Weber State - 79th defense
Idaho State - 118th defense dead last, Montana scored 12
Northern Colorado - 87th defense
Montana State - 61st defense

No defenses in the top 50.

South Dakota State - 16th defense

Now, I'd say 16 > 61


http://web1.ncaa.org/mfb/natlRank.js...div=IAA&dest=O

[Benne]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

[QUOTE=Richard Cranium;136563]Im sure the jacks have a great Defense, but i highly doubt that its better than Montana State boobcats defense.
[QUOTE]


Here's the statistics, no need to doubt. http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/t...ats/stats.aspx

[Jacks-02]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Im sure the jacks have a great Defense, but i highly doubt that its better than Montana State boobcats defense. We hung 33 on them just last weekend, and thats with them holding us out of the end zone on the 1 yard line, and a missed 37 yard FG. The scats would have played MSU Spartans much better in the season opener if 3 of their starting DB's wouldnt have missed the game due to injuries. The 4th DB played but was wearing a brace on his arm. The scats are our in state rival and i loathe them but totally respect their Defense. They kept it close for a half but we just wore them down. The Griz had the ball for 37 minutes and just plain wore them out. 1 of the 2nd half drives our Offense had the ball for 10 minutes. Our Offense is finally clicking and our Defense is keeping people out of the end zone, the past 3 of 4 games.

As far as the crowd, there will be 22,000 -23,000 people there, but most of the older alumni dont come and they are not the ones who make the noise. This game is always louder than regular season games, but not as loud as the 2nd and 3rd playoff games. The last time the jacks were in Missoula the parents of your punter were in awe of how loud our crowd was. And that was a 39-7 warm weather 80+ degree game and it really wasnt loud at all. This game will be alot louder and that will pose very big problems for your offense. Good luck and safe travels to all you jack fans.

We are #16 in the nation in total defense while Montana St. is #61.
We are #1 in the nation in pass efficiency defense while Montana St. is 82.
We are #22 in the nation in pass defense while Montana St. is #113.
We are #23 in the nation in rush defense while Montana St. is #7.
We are #5 in the nation in scoring defense while Montana St. is #51.

So Montana St. has a better rush defense numbers-wise, but SDSU has faced the #4, #8, #13, and #19 rush offenses in the nation in SIU, NDSU, UNI, and Cal Poly while Montana St. hasn't played a single team in the top 20.

Sorry, but its not close.

[Potomac Griz]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

We still have the 2 QB system going for us. Roper has a better long ball than Selle, but Selle has been very good lately too, and has thrown fewer picks (fewer long passes probably = fewer picks though too). Both have high completion %, and if Roper is on, he can move the ball in a hurry.

Reynolds didn't have a great game against MSU last week, but MSU has the #1 run defense in the conference and #7 in the FCS (The Griz are #8). I see SDSU is ranked pretty high up there too in run defense in the FCS. From what I've seen I'd still have to say that MSU's run defense is better though. Unfortunately for MSU, their pass defense isn't much... I can't say the same thing for SDSU.. Looks like you guys have a very good pass defense too, and haven't given up many points this year either.

The numbers on the Griz defense are a little misleading... For the first half of the season they did a lot of bending...and a fair amount of breaking too :P The last 4 games though, the Griz defense has really stepped up and done a great job, including holding Weber State (#13 in total offense) to 10 points.

This should be a very good game, with one of the top offenses in the country going against one of the top defenses. Hard to even guess what the score is going to be.

[jackmd]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

SIU proved that our defense can be beaten, especially on a short field. Our offense has made plenty of mistakes allowing a short field too often.

However, the way our defense has played the last 2 weeks I don't see any team, I mean any team, putting a large number of points on the board against our defense.

[zooropa]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Don't know that SDSU has faced a standout WR yet this year (can't think of any off the top of my head). That might be worth watching.

Also, SDSU rushing defense & scoring defense numbers are skewed by the SIU game.

Frankly you should take SDSU's defensive numbers apart from that game.

Why? Because if the SDSU defense plays like it did against SIU, Montana wins going away, and there's no point comparing the numbers.

However, if SDSU plays like it did the other ten games...... well sir, it's a whole other story.

[Jacks-02]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Don't know that SDSU has faced a standout WR yet this year (can't think of any off the top of my head). That might be worth watching.

Also, SDSU rushing defense & scoring defense numbers are skewed by the SIU game.

Frankly you should take SDSU's defensive numbers apart from that game.

Why? Because if the SDSU defense plays like it did against SIU, Montana wins going away, and there's no point comparing the numbers.

However, if SDSU plays like it did the other ten games...... well sir, it's a whole other story.

Eyad Salem from Illinois State is probably the closest thing we've faced as he is 4th in receptions and 13th in yards.

[A Griz 4ster]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Richard Cranium's name suits him. Don't get excited about his dissing of your defense. Most of us have all the respect in the world for your team and many of us feel like we're kind of getting the shaft having to play you in the first round. I personally am confident we haven't seen a defense as good as SDSU this year. It's going to be a great battle, I can't wait.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Richard Cranium's name suits him. Don't get excited about his dissing of your defense. Most of us have all the respect in the world for your team and many of us feel like we're kind of getting the shaft having to play you in the first round. I personally am confident we haven't seen a defense as good as SDSU this year. It's going to be a great battle, I can't wait.

Every board has a few of those. I, for one, am happy to have so many Griz fans stop by to help us understand what to expect from their team. Thanks!

[GrizNZonecrazy]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Every board has a few of those. I, for one, am happy to have so many Griz fans stop by to help us understand what to expect from their team. Thanks!

Well i'd say you can expect a hard dose of Chase Reynolds, JR RB and a heavy dose of Marc Mariani, SR WR. Even against the best run D we faced this year at MSU we still ran like 41 times for 96 yards.....not impressive at all but they are not going to go away from it if they dont have success....this will open up the passing game and Mariani will have a career day. Also expect to have your first trip to the playoffs ended on saturday....you will not win this one.....but hope many of you make the trip and get to enjoy a truly first class gameday atmosphere! Happy Turkey Day!

[Jacks-02]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

As good as our defense has been, the numbers still don't do it justice as the offense and second team has given up quite a few points.

Against Illinois State the offense gave up a pick 6 and the 2nd team defense gave up a last minute touchdown. (14 pts)

Against Cal Poly the offense gave up a fumble recovery and interception for touchdowns. (14 pts)

Against Southern Illinois the special teams gave up a fumble on the 5 yard line and SIU returned a Crawford pass for a TD. (14 pts)

Against Minnesota the offense gave up a fumble recovery for touchdown and a fumble on the 10 yard line that the defense allowed a field goal on. (10 pts)

Western Illinois got its only touchdown after it intercepted a pass and returned it to the SDSU 25. (7 pts)

So out of the 148 total points given up this year by the Jacks, 59 can be blamed either mostly or entirely on the offense/special teams. Take those plays away (which I know isn't realistic), and the starting defense has given up about 8 pts a game.

[KUlawJack]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

Well i'd say you can expect a hard dose of Chase Reynolds, JR RB and a heavy dose of Marc Mariani, SR WR. Even against the best run D we faced this year at MSU we still ran like 41 times for 96 yards.....not impressive at all but they are not going to go away from it if they dont have success....this will open up the passing game and Mariani will have a career day. Also expect to have your first trip to the playoffs ended on saturday....you will not win this one.....but hope many of you make the trip and get to enjoy a truly first class gameday atmosphere! Happy Turkey Day!

Lots of bold predictions in that one. Good luck with that.

[zooropa]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

As good as our defense has been, the numbers still don't do it justice as the offense and second team has given up quite a few points.

Not sure where you got the points allowed. But, for statistical purposes, I'm pretty sure scoring defense excludes points allowed by the offense on turnovers. Not at all sure about returns for TD's, though.

[GrizFanStuckInUtah]

Re: Let's talk about the game: SDSU at Montana

One other thing I don't see mentioned is special teams. The Griz have been pretty dang good on special teams all year. I know Mariani is part of it, but not the whole thing. We have covered some pretty good returners, like Toone from Weber State. The kick returners the Griz have a pretty good too and we always seem to get points (as long as the laundry is off the field!) on special teams.

How have the Jacks been on special teams? It's hard to get all the stats and a feel for any team from just looking at numbers.