Not that the Great Falls Russell product is giving the D an A, even after third-ranked Montana's 17-3 win last week over Sacramento State.
“I wouldn't say we're rolling right now,” said Kain, whose defense will host Northern Colorado on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium. “If you look at the stats they still put up 350-plus yards on us, which we're not happy about.
Montana's defense ranks No. 2 in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision in points allowed at 11.2 per game. In league games every other defensive category strays toward the middle of the Big Sky Conference rankings, which is OK, considering the Griz are 3-0 in the Big Sky and 6-0 overall.
So Kain, who has 18 tackles this season, wants more from a line that may be the best in the Big Sky. It includes Buchanan Award candidate Kroy Biermann, fellow tackles Craig Mettler, Paul LaMantia and Jesse Carlson, and ends Jace Palmer and Mike Stadnyk.
“We can always get a better pass rush,” he said. “I think we're pretty good run-stoppers, but by no means are we perfect. Pass rush and run-stopping, we'll just keep improving on.”
One area that has little room for improvement is coming up big when the opponent gets near the “red zone,” meaning the 20-yard line. Time and time again the Grizzlies have blunted drives this season.
Sac State was the latest example: The Hornets fell behind 7-0 midway through the first quarter, and despite several misfires on the part of Montana's offense, couldn't seize the lead.
“If you didn't like having the pressure of the game on your back, this is the wrong sport for you,” said Kain. “As the game goes on, we can tell it could come down to just us, playing our best. That's exciting. The pressure's on you, and if they don't score the rest of the game, we win.
“I think all of us thrive on that and I think its one of the best things about football.”
Montana's special teams drew praise from Northern Colorado coach Scott Downing.
“Very, very solid,” said the second-year coach of the Bears. “When they need to make a play, they've made a play. When they need a big return, they pop it. And it's always a comfort to a coach to know you have a kicker like Dan Carpenter that you can bring in.
“He's a very confident young man. He's made some big kicks for them. He's had to be perfect some games because that's the way they were scoring.”
Carpenter is 9-for-11 on field goals and his 65 career field goals leave him five behind UM career leader Chris Snyder (2000-03).
At the other end of the spectrum is Northern Colorado, which has attempted just two field goals - one each by Zak Bigelow and Michael York - and missed both.
If the lack of a kicking game is one reason the Bears have yet to win a game, then Carpenter is one cog on an unbeaten Griz team that perhaps hasn't set the world on fire to this point.
“Maybe sometimes they don't win by the point margin people want them to win by, but we don't get style points,” Downing said. “Each team takes on its own personality, and the team that Coach Hauck has up there right now in Montana is figuring ways to win.”
The Gridiron Power Index (GPI), a hybrid ranking for the FCS and an indicator for at-large playoff selection, has Montana ranked 10th as of Oct. 16.
Northern Iowa is No. 1, followed by North Dakota State, Massachusetts and Appalachian State.
Eastern Washington is ranked 20th in the GPI, and Montana State is No. 27. Northern Colorado is 112th out of 122 teams. Fans can view the GPI at www.collegesportingnews.com.
QUICK KICKS: Arizona transfer Mike Shelton saw time for the Griz at defensive end against Sac State. Š The longest pass play for Northern Colorado this season covered 35 yards, and it was an option pass from running back David Woods to Andy Birkel. Š The annual Western Montana Wine Festival, a Grizzly Scholarship Association fundraiser set for Friday evening at Hilton Garden Inn, has sold out. That means no walk-ups can be accommodated. Š Here are the satellite coordinates for Saturday: Galaxy 26, 09K Digital; 93 Degrees West; Downlink frequency 11890.000; SR 6.148936; FEC þ. For support call Bob Bonner at 702-648-7775.
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