Alex Neale
Photo by: AP
BOBCAT GAME DAY NOTEBOOK #7: Weber State's Tenacious Defense Awaits the Cats Today
10/20/2018 3:09:00 PM | Football
Maximizing possessions and protecting the football rise to the top of the priority list at WSU
Weber State's defense isn't just the obvious storyline in today's game, it may be one of two or three dominant takeaways from the first two months of the 2018 Big Sky Conference season.
The Wildcats lead the Big Sky Conference in rush defense, total defense, and scoring defense. Weber State boasts standouts at each level – nose tackle Filipe Sitake dominates the middle of the line of scrimmage, which allows linebackers LeGrand Toia and Landon Stice to roam the field and make plays, particularly in the ground game, which in turns allows standout cornerbacks Parker Preator and Keilan Benjamin to disrupt the pass game, often with breakups and picks.
And all of this to Weber State's most devastating characteristic – the turnovers. All those turnovers.
"They're really good at taking the ball away," said Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong, "which makes protecting the ball very important." The Wildcats defense has 20 takeaways this season – nine passes intercepted and 11 fumbles recovered. WSU's defense has scored two touchdowns.
Avoiding turnovers isn't MSU's sole offensive objective today. "Even if we don't score points on a possession," head coach Jeff Choate said, invoking a football axiom, "possessing the ball is critical. We want every possession to end in a kick, either a punt, a field goal, or an extra point."
* * * * *
Montana State made it through the week without any new injuries. Freshman running back Isaiah Ifanse remains a game-time decision, as he was last week.
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In order to counter Weber State's penchant for creating turnovers, Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said that Montana State will need to make progress in that category today. Montana State has five interceptions without a fumble recovery this season.
Gregorak said he hopes a simple formula will lead to more turnover creation. "H.O.B.," he said. "Hands on ball. We want to get our hands on the football as many times as possible, and if that happens more of those will end up with us."
* * * * *
If the Bobcat defense is going to re-start a nice opening-drive scoreless streak, today would be an optimal time. Montana State's last two opponents have scored on their first possession – Idaho's game-opening drive was aided by a rash of curious penalties – after MSU had held seven straight foes scoreless to begin their day.
* * * * *
Counting today's game, nine of MSU's previous 18 foes have been nationally-ranked at kickoff. Seventh-ranked Weber State is Montana State's third top-10 opponent of the season. The last time the Cats played as many top-10 teams in a single season was 2006, when MSU faced #1 Appalachian State, #2 Montana, and #8 Furman.
The Wildcats lead the Big Sky Conference in rush defense, total defense, and scoring defense. Weber State boasts standouts at each level – nose tackle Filipe Sitake dominates the middle of the line of scrimmage, which allows linebackers LeGrand Toia and Landon Stice to roam the field and make plays, particularly in the ground game, which in turns allows standout cornerbacks Parker Preator and Keilan Benjamin to disrupt the pass game, often with breakups and picks.
And all of this to Weber State's most devastating characteristic – the turnovers. All those turnovers.
"They're really good at taking the ball away," said Bobcat offensive coordinator Brian Armstrong, "which makes protecting the ball very important." The Wildcats defense has 20 takeaways this season – nine passes intercepted and 11 fumbles recovered. WSU's defense has scored two touchdowns.
Avoiding turnovers isn't MSU's sole offensive objective today. "Even if we don't score points on a possession," head coach Jeff Choate said, invoking a football axiom, "possessing the ball is critical. We want every possession to end in a kick, either a punt, a field goal, or an extra point."
* * * * *
Montana State made it through the week without any new injuries. Freshman running back Isaiah Ifanse remains a game-time decision, as he was last week.
* * * * *
In order to counter Weber State's penchant for creating turnovers, Bobcat defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak said that Montana State will need to make progress in that category today. Montana State has five interceptions without a fumble recovery this season.
Gregorak said he hopes a simple formula will lead to more turnover creation. "H.O.B.," he said. "Hands on ball. We want to get our hands on the football as many times as possible, and if that happens more of those will end up with us."
* * * * *
If the Bobcat defense is going to re-start a nice opening-drive scoreless streak, today would be an optimal time. Montana State's last two opponents have scored on their first possession – Idaho's game-opening drive was aided by a rash of curious penalties – after MSU had held seven straight foes scoreless to begin their day.
* * * * *
Counting today's game, nine of MSU's previous 18 foes have been nationally-ranked at kickoff. Seventh-ranked Weber State is Montana State's third top-10 opponent of the season. The last time the Cats played as many top-10 teams in a single season was 2006, when MSU faced #1 Appalachian State, #2 Montana, and #8 Furman.
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