Kane Ioane
Photo by: Garrett Becker
CATS IN CAMP DAY THREE: Pads Pop in Bobcat Stadium Sunday
8/4/2019 7:16:00 PM | Football
Coordinators Matt Miller and Kane Ioane conducted their first contact drills of preseason camp
BOZEMAN, Montana – Nothing seems more familiar in a football stadium than real football, and that's more or less what happened in Bobcat Stadium on Sunday when Montana State donned shoulder pads for the first time this preseason. But amidst the familiarity were three recognizable faces in new roles.
Matt Miller begins his fourth season at Montana State in 2019, but his first as the program's offensive coordinator. He assumed that role mid-season last fall. Defensive coordinator Kane Ioane returns to the Bobcat program after two seasons at Washington, and linebackers coach Bobby Daly is also back at his alma mater, where he was an All-America linebacker (2004-08). Choate said the change of coordinators and other assistants has caused his team no issues. "It's (been) seamless," he said. "I think Matt having the opportunity to call (plays during) six or seven games last year and then have the off-season to formulate what he wants to do, he's right on cue. I've been very impressed with that. And it's the same thing with Kane on the defensive side, things are clicking there, too."
Choate has long lauded Miller for his calm demeanor, and said that was put to the test early on Sunday. "I think he's very poised," Choate said. "Matt's not a guy who's going to get rattled. I kind of got on him early in (Sunday's) practice and it was by design. I'm not going to yell at the kids to make a point, I'm going to get after the coaches, because then (the players) know I'm serious. (Miller) doesn't really flinch on stuff, he just kind of goes about his business. It speaks to the preparation and confidence he has, he just goes about his business."
Ioane became Montana State's first-ever four-time All-America from 2000-03, then joined the Bobcat coaching staff. He held progressively more responsible roles as an assistant coach until sharing defensive coordinator duties in 2015, Rob Ash's final campaign as head coach. The next season he coached Bobcat linebackers under Ty Gregorak, then accepted a position at Washington. Gregorak's departure last December facilitated Ioane's return to his alma mater.
"It was awesome," Ioane said of his return to Bobcat Stadium. "It's a great feeling, but it's still business. It's still about getting out there and coaching these guys up. You put all that nostalgia behind when you step between the white lines."
Choate previously called Ioane's time at Washington as "finishing school," an environment that gave him time to learn both the scheme and culture Choate had previously worked in under Huskies head coach Chris Petersen. Ioane takes over Bobcat safeties this fall, and Choate said that fit is natural. He takes over a group that includes preseason All-Big Sky choice Brayden Konkol and last season's Big Sky interception leader Jahque Alleyne.
"He spent quite a bit of time with (UW secondary coach and former MSU assistant) Jimmy Lake when he was at Washington," Choate said. "Having that core knowledge having played the position, whether he's coached it or not, you're not going to forget those things. I think the instinctual part of the game, it could be really beneficial for those guys getting it from Kane."
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Ty Okada (5-11, 175, So), a safety, was named MSU's Player of the Day on Sunday for his work on special teams. "Ty has consistently stood out in special teams drills, not just today but throughout camp," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate. "He's a guy we're going to count on for a lot of production in that area. I'm excited to see him continue to progress and gain more opportunities, not just in the kicking game but also on defense."
INTERNS: While giving a nod to MSU's new coordinators and positions coaches (Daly, receivers coach Erik Frazier, and tight ends coach Nate Potter) in 2019, Choate also indicated he's pleased with the work of interns Jonathan Amosa, Hayden Schuh and Austin Ybarra. "We had a couple of interns, Joe Dunning and Pat Carroll, for a couple of years, and those guys really have an important role, especially in how practice flows. That sometimes is just as valuable as far as how practice flows."
THE BIG STAGE: Montana State's first preseason practice in Bobcat Stadium placed more of an emphasis on scrimmage play than individual work. "Our first day in shells today, and our formal practice format was considerably different," Choate said. "There's a bigger emphasis on fundamentals and special teams when we're on the grass and a lot more 11-on-11 and situational work (when the team practices in Bobcat Stadium)."
INSTALATION: Choate said the team's first padded practice (MSU worked in helmets and shoulder pads on Sunday) was productive, and that it is on task and on time in terms of installing the offensive and defensive schemes. "I thought this was a very crisp first 11-on-11 situation, a very workmanlike (day)," he said. "We're staying right on our install track, and that's a good sign. A lot of times you get to day three and (think) maybe let's back off, but it didn't feel lik ewe needed to do that. Our sitauiont was third down today, so we got into an opportunity to work that, then tomorrow is a little green zone/red zone stuff back on the grass, more of a fundamental day, then we'll be back to the turf here the following day."
COMING UP: Montana State returns to the Schubert Dyche practice fields on Monday for a 10:30 am session. In addition to individual work and fundamentals, Choate said Monday's session will feature "a little green zone/red zone stuff back on the grass, more of a fundamental day, then we'll be back to the turf here the (on Tuesday)."
#GoCatsGo
Matt Miller begins his fourth season at Montana State in 2019, but his first as the program's offensive coordinator. He assumed that role mid-season last fall. Defensive coordinator Kane Ioane returns to the Bobcat program after two seasons at Washington, and linebackers coach Bobby Daly is also back at his alma mater, where he was an All-America linebacker (2004-08). Choate said the change of coordinators and other assistants has caused his team no issues. "It's (been) seamless," he said. "I think Matt having the opportunity to call (plays during) six or seven games last year and then have the off-season to formulate what he wants to do, he's right on cue. I've been very impressed with that. And it's the same thing with Kane on the defensive side, things are clicking there, too."
Choate has long lauded Miller for his calm demeanor, and said that was put to the test early on Sunday. "I think he's very poised," Choate said. "Matt's not a guy who's going to get rattled. I kind of got on him early in (Sunday's) practice and it was by design. I'm not going to yell at the kids to make a point, I'm going to get after the coaches, because then (the players) know I'm serious. (Miller) doesn't really flinch on stuff, he just kind of goes about his business. It speaks to the preparation and confidence he has, he just goes about his business."
Ioane became Montana State's first-ever four-time All-America from 2000-03, then joined the Bobcat coaching staff. He held progressively more responsible roles as an assistant coach until sharing defensive coordinator duties in 2015, Rob Ash's final campaign as head coach. The next season he coached Bobcat linebackers under Ty Gregorak, then accepted a position at Washington. Gregorak's departure last December facilitated Ioane's return to his alma mater.
"It was awesome," Ioane said of his return to Bobcat Stadium. "It's a great feeling, but it's still business. It's still about getting out there and coaching these guys up. You put all that nostalgia behind when you step between the white lines."
Choate previously called Ioane's time at Washington as "finishing school," an environment that gave him time to learn both the scheme and culture Choate had previously worked in under Huskies head coach Chris Petersen. Ioane takes over Bobcat safeties this fall, and Choate said that fit is natural. He takes over a group that includes preseason All-Big Sky choice Brayden Konkol and last season's Big Sky interception leader Jahque Alleyne.
"He spent quite a bit of time with (UW secondary coach and former MSU assistant) Jimmy Lake when he was at Washington," Choate said. "Having that core knowledge having played the position, whether he's coached it or not, you're not going to forget those things. I think the instinctual part of the game, it could be really beneficial for those guys getting it from Kane."
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Ty Okada (5-11, 175, So), a safety, was named MSU's Player of the Day on Sunday for his work on special teams. "Ty has consistently stood out in special teams drills, not just today but throughout camp," said Bobcat coach Jeff Choate. "He's a guy we're going to count on for a lot of production in that area. I'm excited to see him continue to progress and gain more opportunities, not just in the kicking game but also on defense."
INTERNS: While giving a nod to MSU's new coordinators and positions coaches (Daly, receivers coach Erik Frazier, and tight ends coach Nate Potter) in 2019, Choate also indicated he's pleased with the work of interns Jonathan Amosa, Hayden Schuh and Austin Ybarra. "We had a couple of interns, Joe Dunning and Pat Carroll, for a couple of years, and those guys really have an important role, especially in how practice flows. That sometimes is just as valuable as far as how practice flows."
THE BIG STAGE: Montana State's first preseason practice in Bobcat Stadium placed more of an emphasis on scrimmage play than individual work. "Our first day in shells today, and our formal practice format was considerably different," Choate said. "There's a bigger emphasis on fundamentals and special teams when we're on the grass and a lot more 11-on-11 and situational work (when the team practices in Bobcat Stadium)."
INSTALATION: Choate said the team's first padded practice (MSU worked in helmets and shoulder pads on Sunday) was productive, and that it is on task and on time in terms of installing the offensive and defensive schemes. "I thought this was a very crisp first 11-on-11 situation, a very workmanlike (day)," he said. "We're staying right on our install track, and that's a good sign. A lot of times you get to day three and (think) maybe let's back off, but it didn't feel lik ewe needed to do that. Our sitauiont was third down today, so we got into an opportunity to work that, then tomorrow is a little green zone/red zone stuff back on the grass, more of a fundamental day, then we'll be back to the turf here the following day."
COMING UP: Montana State returns to the Schubert Dyche practice fields on Monday for a 10:30 am session. In addition to individual work and fundamentals, Choate said Monday's session will feature "a little green zone/red zone stuff back on the grass, more of a fundamental day, then we'll be back to the turf here the (on Tuesday)."
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
Thursday, July 31
Monday, May 19
Wednesday, May 03
Wednesday, May 03
