Saturday, October 15
Ogden, UT
1:30 pm
Montana State University
at
Weber State
The Bobcat defense faces a stern test Saturday at Weber State
Photo by: Kelly Gorham
Bobcats Face Experienced, Strong Weber State
10/14/2016 8:39:00 AM | Football
Cat fight set for Saturday afternoon in Ogden
Jeff Choate hasn't faced Weber State's football team in nearly a decade, but Montana State's first-year head coach considers the Wildcats a familiar opponent.
"It's ironic, (Weber State) looks like Utah," Choate said of a Wildcats team coached by long-time University of Utah assistant coach Jay Hill. "We played Utah a number of times (when Choate coached) at Boise State and certainly in the Pac 12 at Washington State and Washington."
Choate's familiarity also relates directly to Hill, he said. "Jay Hill is a long-time friend of mine, a really, really good person and a good football coach. You can see the process he's implemented at Weber State. This is a team that's played a lot of close games. I see a guy that's been starting at quarterback for them for two-and-a-half years that is producing and making plays when they need it. I think they're one of the more physical teams in the league, that's one thing that stands out to me immediately, these guys play a very physical brand of football."
After playing a back-to-back games which featured teams seeking their first Big Sky win of the season, Montana State battles a Wildcats team occupying a share of the league's catbird seat. WSU stands 2-0 in the league, one of three unbeaten, and has won three straight.
Montana State has lost three straight, and Choate looks for more consistency across the board. That starts, he hopes, on offense. "The reality is that we've struggled to throw the football, for a number of reasons," he said. "In dropback situations protection has become an issue, and we need to do a better job of creating separation with our receivers. Those are things we've talked extensively about (Sunday and Monday). We've got to produce more in the passing game. We can't be one-dimensional."
Those bumps in pass game, Choate hopes, can be smoothed out by increased production on the ground. "We need to set up the pass by being able to run the ball," he said. "That's what we want our identity to be."
While inefficiencies across the board have led the Bobcats to their 2-4 record entering Saturday's game, Choate has been pleased with one important element. "These guys fight," he said of his team. "One thing we talk a lot about around here is process over product. As a football coach it's hard to be disciplined, stick to the process, because there's going to be painful moments that come as a result, but I've been pleased that these guys have understood that we're building a foundation here that's going to last, and it's not going to be a game-to-game program here it's going to be a season-to-season program where it's looked at as, 'Hey, they did that right, it's going to be something that's special and significant,' and I think these kids get that."
Weber State's array of offensive weapons begins with Jadrian Clark. The senior quarterback completes 60% of his passes and averages 212.2 yards per game, with senior receiver Cam Livingston serving as his primary weapon. He has 217 yards receiving. "Cam Livingston is a good athlete," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak. "It seems like he's been there forever."
Choate is a fan of Weber State's quarterback. "The Clark kid, he's kind of sneaky because he's a big, physical guy with a strong arm who's kind of a pro style pocket guy, but he's made a lot of big plays for them with his feet. He's been effective on designed quarterback runs as well as in scramble situations. A lot of their explosive plays have come off him either extending the play outside the pocket and launching or using his legs to make plays outside their offense."
Landon Stice (50) and Josh Burton (48) lead the Wildcats in tackles, but Tre'von Johnson is one of the league's top playmakers. He has a team-high 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two hurries, and a fumble recovery. "That kid could play anywhere," Choate said. "He makes a lot of plays."
Kickoff is at 1:40 pm Saturday at Ogden's Stewart Stadium. The game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and is available nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network.
"It's ironic, (Weber State) looks like Utah," Choate said of a Wildcats team coached by long-time University of Utah assistant coach Jay Hill. "We played Utah a number of times (when Choate coached) at Boise State and certainly in the Pac 12 at Washington State and Washington."
Choate's familiarity also relates directly to Hill, he said. "Jay Hill is a long-time friend of mine, a really, really good person and a good football coach. You can see the process he's implemented at Weber State. This is a team that's played a lot of close games. I see a guy that's been starting at quarterback for them for two-and-a-half years that is producing and making plays when they need it. I think they're one of the more physical teams in the league, that's one thing that stands out to me immediately, these guys play a very physical brand of football."
After playing a back-to-back games which featured teams seeking their first Big Sky win of the season, Montana State battles a Wildcats team occupying a share of the league's catbird seat. WSU stands 2-0 in the league, one of three unbeaten, and has won three straight.
Montana State has lost three straight, and Choate looks for more consistency across the board. That starts, he hopes, on offense. "The reality is that we've struggled to throw the football, for a number of reasons," he said. "In dropback situations protection has become an issue, and we need to do a better job of creating separation with our receivers. Those are things we've talked extensively about (Sunday and Monday). We've got to produce more in the passing game. We can't be one-dimensional."
Those bumps in pass game, Choate hopes, can be smoothed out by increased production on the ground. "We need to set up the pass by being able to run the ball," he said. "That's what we want our identity to be."
While inefficiencies across the board have led the Bobcats to their 2-4 record entering Saturday's game, Choate has been pleased with one important element. "These guys fight," he said of his team. "One thing we talk a lot about around here is process over product. As a football coach it's hard to be disciplined, stick to the process, because there's going to be painful moments that come as a result, but I've been pleased that these guys have understood that we're building a foundation here that's going to last, and it's not going to be a game-to-game program here it's going to be a season-to-season program where it's looked at as, 'Hey, they did that right, it's going to be something that's special and significant,' and I think these kids get that."
Weber State's array of offensive weapons begins with Jadrian Clark. The senior quarterback completes 60% of his passes and averages 212.2 yards per game, with senior receiver Cam Livingston serving as his primary weapon. He has 217 yards receiving. "Cam Livingston is a good athlete," said MSU defensive coordinator Ty Gregorak. "It seems like he's been there forever."
Choate is a fan of Weber State's quarterback. "The Clark kid, he's kind of sneaky because he's a big, physical guy with a strong arm who's kind of a pro style pocket guy, but he's made a lot of big plays for them with his feet. He's been effective on designed quarterback runs as well as in scramble situations. A lot of their explosive plays have come off him either extending the play outside the pocket and launching or using his legs to make plays outside their offense."
Landon Stice (50) and Josh Burton (48) lead the Wildcats in tackles, but Tre'von Johnson is one of the league's top playmakers. He has a team-high 5.5 tackles-for-loss, 1.5 sacks, two pass breakups, two hurries, and a fumble recovery. "That kid could play anywhere," Choate said. "He makes a lot of plays."
Kickoff is at 1:40 pm Saturday at Ogden's Stewart Stadium. The game is televised regionally on ROOT Sports and is available nationally on DirecTV's Audience Network.
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