Big Sky Scouting Report (Scout your team)

[SeattleCat]

The Big Sky has a lot of question marks surrounding it this year beyond the top dog or shall we say Cat. I'd be nice if some posters from the other Big Sky teams would scout their team and maybe give us an idea of what your team has looked like in the offseason and maybe what they're excited/looking forward to. I'd really like to hear what others in the conference has to say about their teams.

I'll start with my take on Montana State

Last year ended in a souring semifinal loss to SDSU, Bobcats where #2 in Rushing yards per game, #1 in total rushing yards and #1 in yards per rush in the FCS. The Bobcats look to continue their rushing dominance as they return their entire starting offense line and have built depth behind those starters, The Cats will rotate 8-9 players through the line to keep everyone fresh. The running back situation is mostly unchanged (Ifanse is gone, but only played in the playoffs last year) and hopefully healthier with Lane Sumner and Jared White ready to go and additions of Julius Davis and Scottre Humphrey. Last years leading rusher at RB, Elijah Elliott is still around and Garrett Coon will also get carries.

They also don't have to just rely on on their stable of 5-6 backs to carry the rock, the QB tandem of Touchdown Tommy Mellott and Sean Chamber will most likely get the bulk of the carries. Mellott is an absolute freak who was grown in a test tube with Captain America and Wonder Woman's DNA. But seriously... this kid looks like can could just look at you and crush you like a bug (he's also quite possibly the nicest kid on the planet). He's rumored to have 4.3 speed and his strength are off the charts, he's tops on team squats. Sean Chambers isn't too shabby himself, he gets put in on short yard situations and is usually good for 3 or 4 if he didn't just run through everyone. 2 Qb's is weird and never works, but its working in Bozeman. Oh, and they'll put both of them on the field at the same time and its absolutely beatiful.

Montana State really wants to improve throwing the ball and they need to. Cats offense for the past 6 Seasons under Vigen and Choate have been, "we're running right at you. stop us we dare you." that's not enough to win Championships, Cats need some of the younger kids and Transfer Lonyatta Alexander to step up in the wake of burner Taco Dowler's season ended injury.

The biggest question mark for Montana State is their defense. Last year they we're uncharacteristically bad, good in spurts but also not so good. Cats D line returns almost 100% in tact and they were the jewel of last years Defense. Junior Sebastian Valdez has used brute force to blow up offensive protections and if his hands are better he's going to have a ridiculous year.

last years weak link was pass protection linebackers and Dbs looked lost at times and with the departures of Callahan O'Reilly and Ty Okada its seems to only sting worse. However reports from fall camp are signaling good signs from the secondary and an improved secondary could be all Montana State needs to push it over the top.

Cats first opponent is Utah Tech (formerly known as Dixie State), this should be a brushing off the rust game but I could see UT giving the Cats fits if they're looking ahead to the week 2 rematch with SDSU... and I guarantee they're looking ahead with vengeance. Still UT is no match for the Bobcats 44-27 Cats.

Please Big Sky posters, scout your team!

[bonarae]

I have Swiss cheese-type knowledge on UC Davis, so the loyalists to the Aggies, come help me.

The Aggies return their stable passing game (2 more seasons of Hastings under center, I hope), while the rushing game needs a consistent and worthy successor to Gilliam. Tompkins, a converted QB to WR, and Hutton are the key returning receivers.

Defense is quite stable with some of the key frontline players returning in Buchanan and Maae; while Rex Connors is the key cog in the defensive backfield. The Aggies need to replace some significant starters on D though.

[CA Forever]

I have Swiss cheese-type knowledge on UC Davis, so the loyalists to the Aggies, come help me.

The Aggies return their stable passing game (2 more seasons of Hastings under center, I hope), while the rushing game needs a consistent and worthy successor to Gilliam. Tompkins, a converted QB to WR, and Hutton are the key returning receivers.

Defense is quite stable with some of the key frontline players returning in Buchanan and Maae; while Rex Connors is the key cog in the defensive backfield. The Aggies need to replace some significant starters on D though.

QB - We return Miles Hastings at QB who last season threw for 3000 yards and 20 TDs on close to 70% completion percentage. Not much of a scramble or designed run threat.

RB - Losing Gilliam is a big hit to the offense. I mean, tough to replace a guy who had 4600 career yards and 44 TDs but it should be Lan Larison who takes up the reins. Larison acted as Gilliam's back up last season and still rushed for close to 500 yards with a 7.5 yards per rush average. He's also a pretty solid receiver out of the backfield. I don't think that Larison is quite the same guy as Gilliam, but the backfield should be in good hands.

WR - We haven't had a true star WR since Keelan Doss, but we return several guys who are all at least competent at catching the ball. CJ Hutton, Trent Tompkins, Chaz Davis, and Justin Kraft should all see the field on the a consistent basis. We brought in a lot of freshman in this last recruiting class and I'm particularly interested in Robbie Mascheroni who has both size and speed.

TE - Our star TE over the last couple of seasons, McCallan Castles, has now transferred to Tennessee. He was a decent receiver and excellent blocker. The coaching staff has singled out Josh Gale as the likely replacement for Castles. He's not as big or as proficient of a blocker, but is fast and a big play receiving threat.

OL - We return 3 starters on the line in Jake Parks, Jordan Ford, and Nicole Sarale all of which are fairly solid in their roles. We brought in a little bit of JUCO help to fill in the gaps and have some rotational guys who got experience last season due to injuries.

DL - You just can't teach size and Chubba Maae brings size listed at 6'2 347. He's fairly athletic for his size and can truly hold down the defensive line in between the guards. Zach Kennedy is returning on the edge and has been picking up all-conference honors. The coaching staff seems excited about Evan Bearden who transitioned to DL from TE last season. They've been quoted as a saying he looks like a completely new player with a full offseason of learning the position and could be a solid contributor

LB - We lost Jayce Smalley (3rd on team in tackles) to graduation, but we return a plethora of guys with experience including Teddye Buchanan, Nick Eaton, Jackson Cloyd, and Evan Tattersall (Cal transfer from a year ago). Buchanan missed some time last season with injuries, but he is a monster in the middle of the field. Eaton is a pass rush specialist and has explosive speed.

DB - Losing CB Devon King and Safety Chris Venable are significant losses for the defense. Rex Connors is an absolute stud and is picking up all kinds of pre-season honors after a freshman campaign where he led the team in tackles and interceptions. He sees the field well and hits like a truck. Jehiel Budgett should be the replacement for King on the outside and we return Blake Cotton who started on the other side of the field as a freshman. We brought in several freshman in our last recruiting class as well as a transfer from Iowa.

S/T - We're going to have a new punter and kicker this season. We haven't heard much in terms of who is picking up the slack, but we did bring in a transfer from UNLV.

[SeattleCat]

QB - We return Miles Hastings at QB who last season threw for 3000 yards and 20 TDs on close to 70% completion percentage. Not much of a scramble or designed run threat.

RB - Losing Gilliam is a big hit to the offense. I mean, tough to replace a guy who had 4600 career yards and 44 TDs but it should be Lan Larison who takes up the reins. Larison acted as Gilliam's back up last season and still rushed for close to 500 yards with a 7.5 yards per rush average. He's also a pretty solid receiver out of the backfield. I don't think that Larison is quite the same guy as Gilliam, but the backfield should be in good hands.

WR - We haven't had a true star WR since Keelan Doss, but we return several guys who are all at least competent at catching the ball. CJ Hutton, Trent Tompkins, Chaz Davis, and Justin Kraft should all see the field on the a consistent basis. We brought in a lot of freshman in this last recruiting class and I'm particularly interested in Robbie Mascheroni who has both size and speed.

TE - Our star TE over the last couple of seasons, McCallan Castles, has now transferred to Tennessee. He was a decent receiver and excellent blocker. The coaching staff has singled out Josh Gale as the likely replacement for Castles. He's not as big or as proficient of a blocker, but is fast and a big play receiving threat.

OL - We return 3 starters on the line in Jake Parks, Jordan Ford, and Nicole Sarale all of which are fairly solid in their roles. We brought in a little bit of JUCO help to fill in the gaps and have some rotational guys who got experience last season due to injuries.

DL - You just can't teach size and Chubba Maae brings size listed at 6'2 347. He's fairly athletic for his size and can truly hold down the defensive line in between the guards. Zach Kennedy is returning on the edge and has been picking up all-conference honors. The coaching staff seems excited about Evan Bearden who transitioned to DL from TE last season. They've been quoted as a saying he looks like a completely new player with a full offseason of learning the position and could be a solid contributor

LB - We lost Jayce Smalley (3rd on team in tackles) to graduation, but we return a plethora of guys with experience including Teddye Buchanan, Nick Eaton, Jackson Cloyd, and Evan Tattersall (Cal transfer from a year ago). Buchanan missed some time last season with injuries, but he is a monster in the middle of the field. Eaton is a pass rush specialist and has explosive speed.

DB - Losing CB Devon King and Safety Chris Venable are significant losses for the defense. Rex Connors is an absolute stud and is picking up all kinds of pre-season honors after a freshman campaign where he led the team in tackles and interceptions. He sees the field well and hits like a truck. Jehiel Budgett should be the replacement for King on the outside and we return Blake Cotton who started on the other side of the field as a freshman. We brought in several freshman in our last recruiting class as well as a transfer from Iowa.

S/T - We're going to have a new punter and kicker this season. We haven't heard much in terms of who is picking up the slack, but we did bring in a transfer from UNLV.

Thanks CA forever!

[McCowboys]

Thanks CA forever!

Yes, thank you to all who contribute to this thread. I like learning about other teams, and some other threads are nothing but pissing contests.

[CA Forever]

Thanks CA forever!

No problem! I think with a more favorable schedule this season when compared to last season the Aggies could make a push for the playoffs, but you never quite know in the wild west that is the Big Sky.