“It's the same things I talked about after South Dakota State,” he said. “Kickoff coverage, kickoff return. Red zone offense. Rushing defense. Penalties.”
But not sacks.
Loren Utterback is the only Griz with a sack, getting to Iowa's Drew Tate for a 3-yard loss in UM's 41-7 loss to the Hawkeyes on Sept. 2.
“Iowa gloved us up, up front,” Hauck noted Thursday. “We couldn't get there. And South Dakota State didn't drop-back pass that much. The only time they did was for screens. They rolled out a bunch, which in college football today means you aren't going to get many sacks.”
Which brings us to the Grizzlies' opponent Saturday, Sacramento State. The Hornets, with either Marcel Marquez or Crosby Wehr at quarterback, figure to feature a sprint-out style when they take to the Washington-Grizzly Stadium turf at 1:05 p.m.
Both QBs are mobile. Once they move out of the pocket, intentional grounding is not an issue.
“This week will be the same,” Hauck said. “They're going to roll out a bunch, and we won't have sacks. Unless they choose to drop back, which I don't think they will. Everything else will be sprint-out.”
Montana's defensive front has to plan more on containment than on pressure.
“You just have to go back to your fundamentals,” said junior defensive end Kroy Biermann.
“We've always been taught to play the ball and man, and my man would be the offensive tackle. Whichever direction the tackle goes is the direction I am to follow.”
Biermann didn't get to SDSU quarterback Andy Kardoes, but the Hardin product did knock down two passes.
On the other side is Sac State's defense, which showed talent in 2005. Montana's 31-14 win at Sacramento featured two defensive touchdowns by the Griz. Take those away and it's a nearly even game.
“We were impressed with their defense a year ago, and we knew they were young,” Hauck said. “The linebackers have played pretty well - they're pretty danged good everywhere.”
Griz quarterback Josh Swogger was at Washington State a year ago, but has been impressed with the film of Sac State.
“Their back four - their corners and safeties - look really good, as do their linebackers,” Swogger said. “They like to blitz, they like to bring pressure. Š There's a lot of respect for the Sacramento State defense.”
Both teams are young up front on offense, Sacramento State in particular. The Hornets did get help from Division I-A, with 315-pound Missouri transfer Matt Russell taking over at right tackle.
Sac State coach Steve Mooshagian, meanwhile, says Montana's line is certainly as capable as it is big - and added that the shadows cast may be enough for a climate change on UM's SprinTurf.
“I look at a forecast of 80 degrees, and it'll only be 50 when we get down in our stance,” Mooshagian said Tuesday. “They are mammoth. Š They may be bigger than Boise State. And Boise was pretty big.”
The Hornets played Boise State without defensive end James Henderson, who was ejected for fighting in Sac State's last game - the loss to Montana last November. The 260-pound junior came off suspension to play in the Hornets' 17-10 loss to Cal Poly last week.
QUICK KICKS: The latest forecast from www.weather.com calls for a high of 65 degrees Saturday, with a 20 percent chance of rain. Š For the second straight week Hauck, with Swogger (finger) and running back Greg Coleman (foot) among those nursing injuries, closed Thursday's practice. Š Š It's satellite digital coordinates time: Digital 1A 8/K17; Slot B-9 mhz; downlink frequency 12044.500V; symbol rate 6.148936. As always, a digital m-peg 2 receiver works, and Bob Bonner in Las Vegas (702-648-7775) is on call for assistance. Š In his weekly look at I-AA football, The Sports Network's Matt Dougherty has the Griz ranked No. 10 in his personal Top 25. Š Wehr started for Sac State against the Griz last November. His second pass was tipped by Murphy, and the Grizzlies' Lance Spencer intercepted for UM's first TD.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)