MSU looks to gear up the ground game Saturday
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Look for Third Down Improvement on First, Second Downs
9/27/2013 8:04:00 AM | Football
Ash hopes for improved efficiency in the run game
Rob Ash has a simple solution for improving its offensive play on third down.
"We need to do better on first and second down," MSU's seventh-year head coach said this week as talk of the Bobcats' third-down woes swirled around the program. "We've been in third-and-long too often, and that puts your offense in a bad situation."
The Bobcats finished last week's loss at Stephen F. Austin just 2-for-14 on third down. None of those plays began with MSU within five yards of the line-to-gain. MSU's lone third-and-four situation resulted in an SFA penalty and a Montana State first down. The Cats were 0-for-7 on third down conversion attempts in the second half.
"That's been a focus for us this week," Ash said. "We need to be more efficient on first and second downs. That starts with our ability to run the ball."
In four games this season, the Bobcats have converted 33.9% of their third down tries. That figure is just below average in the league, and comes one season after Montana State converted at a rate of 49.5% on third down. That mark was good for second in the Big Sky, and only fell below 50% in the playoffs.
Playing without fourth-year starting quarterback DeNarius McGhee the last two weeks, the Bobcat offense has remained effective in broad strokes. Behind sophomore signal caller Jake Bleskin the Bobcats have gained over 400 yards with at least 20 first downs in each of the past two games. Bleskin has become the second Bobcat in history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two starts.
Solid numbers notwithstanding, Ash looks for consistency and improvement as his team heads to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., for the first time for Saturday's matchup between North Dakota and the Bobcats. "We have a good group of running backs," Ash said. "We've had some changes in the offensive line (due to injuries), but that's not an excuse. We have to run the football better."
"We need to do better on first and second down," MSU's seventh-year head coach said this week as talk of the Bobcats' third-down woes swirled around the program. "We've been in third-and-long too often, and that puts your offense in a bad situation."
The Bobcats finished last week's loss at Stephen F. Austin just 2-for-14 on third down. None of those plays began with MSU within five yards of the line-to-gain. MSU's lone third-and-four situation resulted in an SFA penalty and a Montana State first down. The Cats were 0-for-7 on third down conversion attempts in the second half.
"That's been a focus for us this week," Ash said. "We need to be more efficient on first and second downs. That starts with our ability to run the ball."
In four games this season, the Bobcats have converted 33.9% of their third down tries. That figure is just below average in the league, and comes one season after Montana State converted at a rate of 49.5% on third down. That mark was good for second in the Big Sky, and only fell below 50% in the playoffs.
Playing without fourth-year starting quarterback DeNarius McGhee the last two weeks, the Bobcat offense has remained effective in broad strokes. Behind sophomore signal caller Jake Bleskin the Bobcats have gained over 400 yards with at least 20 first downs in each of the past two games. Bleskin has become the second Bobcat in history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two starts.
Solid numbers notwithstanding, Ash looks for consistency and improvement as his team heads to the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D., for the first time for Saturday's matchup between North Dakota and the Bobcats. "We have a good group of running backs," Ash said. "We've had some changes in the offensive line (due to injuries), but that's not an excuse. We have to run the football better."
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