Cole Bullock
Photo by: Bobcat Creative Services
CATS IN CAMP DAY #9: Cats Enter Dog Days with Work to Do Before Fall Scrimmage
8/5/2024 4:32:00 PM | Football
MSU enters 2024 season ranked No. 4 in Stats Perform FCS Preseason Poll
BOZEMAN, Montana – Every college and sports season has it, a period of time during preseason preparation where athletes' bodies and minds are most acutely tested.
Welcome to the dog days.
"I suppose this week is," Montana State coach Brent Vigen said when asked if his team is entering the dog days of August. "This week is the truest of it all, when we have six consecutive days of practice. This is the time when you separate the men from the boys a little bit."
This week is unlike any other during preseason camp in that it leads to MSU's only full-scale fall scrimmage on Saturday. "I think it's situationally getting everything in as far as the offense and defense schemes," Vigen said. "You can hopefully go into that day and play it out as a game with the offense, defense and special teams schemes in. We can evaluate which guys can go out and operate in a game-like situation."
Monday's practice offered a first step in that direction, Vigen said. "It was a good day. We were back in full pads after a day off and our intent was really good today. We had some competitive situations, again building on situational football. Like any of these days there was good back-and-forth. I think guys are fighting through the middle of camp and our overall health and numbers out here, but I feel good about the direction we're going."
* * * * *
Montana State checks in at No. 4 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 poll, a list that leans heavily to the Big Sky and Missouri Valley Football conferences and which reads like an ode to FCS rivalries at the top.
Defending national champion South Dakota State enters 2024 as the top-ranked team, with North Dakota State second and Montana third. South Dakota, like SDSU and NDSU a Missouri Valley entry, ranks fifth, with Villanova sixth, and Big Sky schools Idaho (No. 7) and Sacramento State (eighth) right behind. Chattanooga and Southern Illinois round out the top 10. UC Davis (18) and Weber State (22) round out the top 25.
Link to full poll: South Dakota State No. 1 in FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll | The Analyst
* * * * *
Vigen has praised the work of his specialists throughout the preseason, particularly as that group prepares for its first full test of the fall on Saturday. He lauds punter and kickoff specialist Brendan Hall and long snapper Tommy Sullivan as "among the best there is" at their particular trades. Hall led the FCS in kickoff touchbacks (72) and his punting average would have been third had he qualified (46.1 yards per punt). Sullivan is the long snapper on the Preseason All-Big Sky team.
The progress made by place kicker Casey Kautzman has caught Vigen's attention. "Casey Kautzman in particular coming back, I think we've felt his progress through the course of the year has been significant," the fourth-year head coach said. "His consistency is where I think he was off the mark during the fall, and he got thrust in that position, but fast forward to now and we really like the consistency part of what he's doing. That doesn't mean the job is his necessarily, but he's the first guy that we should speak to."
Vigen also pointed out that, "like any other position, the opportunity to get better and to improve should be granted to a place kicker." The personnel at that spot will develop this week, as Myles Sansted competes with Kautzman and a pair of freshmen remain as tryout kickers. "We'll see those guys continue to develop and that competition continue to play out as we move through this week."
The developing depth chart situation at every position also effects the kicking and coverage units. "That does carry on into special teams, where we've gotten some real good work at this point in time on our coverage teams in particular. We'll start transitioning to our return teams more."
* * * * *
Four Bobcats earned mention on the 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-America list. Offensive tackle Marcus Wehr, defensive end Brody Grebe and punter Brendan Hall each landed on the first team. Quarterback Tommy Mellott was named to the fourth team.
#GoCatsGo
Welcome to the dog days.
"I suppose this week is," Montana State coach Brent Vigen said when asked if his team is entering the dog days of August. "This week is the truest of it all, when we have six consecutive days of practice. This is the time when you separate the men from the boys a little bit."
This week is unlike any other during preseason camp in that it leads to MSU's only full-scale fall scrimmage on Saturday. "I think it's situationally getting everything in as far as the offense and defense schemes," Vigen said. "You can hopefully go into that day and play it out as a game with the offense, defense and special teams schemes in. We can evaluate which guys can go out and operate in a game-like situation."
Monday's practice offered a first step in that direction, Vigen said. "It was a good day. We were back in full pads after a day off and our intent was really good today. We had some competitive situations, again building on situational football. Like any of these days there was good back-and-forth. I think guys are fighting through the middle of camp and our overall health and numbers out here, but I feel good about the direction we're going."
* * * * *
Montana State checks in at No. 4 in the Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 poll, a list that leans heavily to the Big Sky and Missouri Valley Football conferences and which reads like an ode to FCS rivalries at the top.
Defending national champion South Dakota State enters 2024 as the top-ranked team, with North Dakota State second and Montana third. South Dakota, like SDSU and NDSU a Missouri Valley entry, ranks fifth, with Villanova sixth, and Big Sky schools Idaho (No. 7) and Sacramento State (eighth) right behind. Chattanooga and Southern Illinois round out the top 10. UC Davis (18) and Weber State (22) round out the top 25.
Link to full poll: South Dakota State No. 1 in FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll | The Analyst
* * * * *
Vigen has praised the work of his specialists throughout the preseason, particularly as that group prepares for its first full test of the fall on Saturday. He lauds punter and kickoff specialist Brendan Hall and long snapper Tommy Sullivan as "among the best there is" at their particular trades. Hall led the FCS in kickoff touchbacks (72) and his punting average would have been third had he qualified (46.1 yards per punt). Sullivan is the long snapper on the Preseason All-Big Sky team.
The progress made by place kicker Casey Kautzman has caught Vigen's attention. "Casey Kautzman in particular coming back, I think we've felt his progress through the course of the year has been significant," the fourth-year head coach said. "His consistency is where I think he was off the mark during the fall, and he got thrust in that position, but fast forward to now and we really like the consistency part of what he's doing. That doesn't mean the job is his necessarily, but he's the first guy that we should speak to."
Vigen also pointed out that, "like any other position, the opportunity to get better and to improve should be granted to a place kicker." The personnel at that spot will develop this week, as Myles Sansted competes with Kautzman and a pair of freshmen remain as tryout kickers. "We'll see those guys continue to develop and that competition continue to play out as we move through this week."
The developing depth chart situation at every position also effects the kicking and coverage units. "That does carry on into special teams, where we've gotten some real good work at this point in time on our coverage teams in particular. We'll start transitioning to our return teams more."
* * * * *
Four Bobcats earned mention on the 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-America list. Offensive tackle Marcus Wehr, defensive end Brody Grebe and punter Brendan Hall each landed on the first team. Quarterback Tommy Mellott was named to the fourth team.
#GoCatsGo
Players Mentioned
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