With Portland State's Big Sky Conference game at the University of Montana a couple days away - Saturday, at 12:05 p.m. inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium - he'd softened that stance a little.
Losing games by scores of 44-43 (to Northern Arizona) and 73-68 (to Weber State) ahead of a battle with the conference front-runner can do that.
Members of the 8-0 Grizzlies do expect the 2-6 Vikings to come after them.
“They like to blitz a lot and that's been our focus,” said Montana tackle Brent Russum. “Monday coach (Rob) Phenicie was taking us through some blitz schemes, picking up some new looks we haven't seen just because of that four-backer defense.”
Portland State's 3-4 look hasn't always been effective, but has put pressure on opposing offenses. The 3-4 may be somewhat unique to the Big Sky, though NAU features a 3-man front in its “flex” defense.
“We've seen it all,” quarterback Cole Bergquist said. “We'll be ready for it, but we're also going to try to be ready for anything they'll do that we haven't seen, too.”
Putting some pressure on will be Portland State receiver Tremayne Kirkland, a speedy 165-pounder out of Sacramento, Calif.
The senior asked for and received a hardship year from the NCAA for this season. He came to PSU from UNLV, where he played two years and sat out another as an injury redshirt. Former Vikings' coach Tim Walsh had originally recruited Kirkland to play quarterback and in fact had him run some option last season.
Kirkland said former UNLV coach John Robinson had the biggest influence on him, but that PSU's Mouse Davis is the best coordinator he's played for.
“If I wouldn't have known Coach Davis was coming here, I would've sent a tape to Montana,” he said. “It's definitely a positive aspect, just having the opportunity to learn under Coach Davis. Even though my touchdowns might be down - well, before last week.”
Kirkland caught four touchdown passes from freshman quarterback Drew Hubel against Weber State, giving him six this season. He had seven TDs last year for the Vikings.
Kirkland is among several Portland State deep threats, but the Vikings' run-and-shoot offense isn't all about passes up the seams.
“They're going to try and come in here and throw the football around a lot,” said linebacker Tyler Joyce, the Grizzlies' leading tackler. “It's funny because in those 50 or 60 passes, they're going to throw some shovel passes. That's kind of like their run game. People were saying they threw the shovel eight or 10 times last week.”
Many of the underneath passes go to running back Olaniyi Sobomehin, a 230-pounder who was buried on the depth chart in September. Injuries have cleared the way for him to catch 34 passes, second-most on the team.
“I always thought we could've used him a lot more last year,” Kirkland said. “Me being a senior, I got a chance to work out with him, and I know where he's coming from. And he's a good barber, too.”
A bit of sobering news concerning the Griz community comes from Florida. Casey Lang, who worked for the Griz football team as a videographer under coaches Joe Glenn, Mick Dennehy and Bobby Hauck, was seriously injured over the weekend, the result of being struck by a car.
Casey was working as a videographer for the CBS affiliate in West Palm Beach when the accident happened. His father, Donald, is missing his first Griz game in nearly 17 years to be in Florida.
A Web site, www.caseylang.net, has information on how people can send messages to his family as well as donate money to a not-for-profit fund to help offset medical expenses.
QUICK KICKS: Portland State's 17 sacks rank fifth in the Big Sky, but the Vikings' 41 sacks allowed rank last in the league and next-to-last among 116 FCS teams. ... Only a couple FCS programs - Western Illinois (18) and UMass (15) - have more touchbacks than Montana and kicker Dan Carpenter (13). Š The Grizzlies allow 19.14 yards per kick return, best in the Big Sky and 28th in the FCS. Š UM's Kroy Biermann is second in the FCS in sacks, and ninth in tackles for loss. Š Griz punter Tyson Johnson's strong game at NAU - seven punts for a 51.3-yard average - vaulted him into the Big Sky lead. His 43.7-yard average ranks sixth in the FCS.
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