Big Sky Power Rankings-Preseason

[JALMOND]

So many questions surrounding all the teams in the Big Sky at the start of the season made it very difficult to set up the power rankings. Montana State seemed to be the frontrunner, but has suffered some key losses on its vaunted defensive front. That has opened up the door for many other teams to think they have a legitimate shot at the title. Should make for an interesting season this year. Here are the preseason power rankings for the Big Sky. As usual, all are my opinion only. Good luck to all teams.

1. Montana State Bobcats---The Bobcats will still rely on their top returning quarterback to lead its strong offense, but with the losses mounting on defense, the offense may need to keep scoring. They should still be considered the favorite for now. This season begins at home against former Northeast member, Monmouth, on Thursday.

2. Eastern Washington Eagles---The Eagles used a platoon system at quarterback last year and this year only one of those quarterbacks return. The problem is that their strong trio of receivers all left. The defense still should provide enough of a push to keep the offense in games. They begin the season on the road Saturday at Pac-12 Oregon State.

3. Northern Arizona Lumberjacks---The Lumberjacks are building this season around their top running back from last year and enough returning to keep them relevant this season. Last season's late swoon (becoming typical unfortunately) kept them from going to the playoffs, but they should have enough to be in contention. This season's opener finds them on the road at Pac-12's Arizona team on Friday.

4. Montana Grizzlies---The Grizzlies are poised to show last season was a fluke and they are set to return to their winning ways they are accustomed to. Even with their 5-6 record last year, they return almost everyone and welcome back their strong quarterback from two years ago. They will start at home on Saturday against a strong Appalachian State team.

5. North Dakota---The former Sioux are gunning with their versatile receiver and returner, as well as most skill positions set. However, they do lack an experienced quarterback. If they can find that early, they will make some noise this year. They will also start at home on Thursday against Pioneer conference foe Valparaiso.

6. Sacramento State Hornets---Recent years have found the Hornets doing well against the Pac-12, but that has not transferred to any type of postseason appearances in the Big Sky or the FCS. That could change this year as they have a bunch of talent returning and their Pac-12 opponent is Arizona State. But first they get San Jose State on the road on Thursday.

7. Cal Poly Mustangs----The Mustangs seem to have lost the most of the other conference leaders but there still is enough on defense to hang in there. They have the potential and whether it can translate into victories will remain to be seen. They start with the Pioneer Conference's San Diego squad at home on Saturday.

8. Northern Colorado Bears---The former cellar dwellers closed strongly last season and that has provided some optimism for the Bears heading into this year. They've always had a good quarterback, but a weak support cast, but this year there are signs that the rest of the team may be catching up. They will start their season on Saturday at home against the NAIA's Langston team.

9. Southern Utah Thunderbirds---Big shoes are to be filled at quarterback as last year's signal caller is now in the NFL. If they can find someone, there are players to throw to as the receivers all return. There is talent here and if they can get it going right away, they could make some noise. They will start the season on Thursday at FBS transition South Alabama.

10. Portland State Vikings---One doesn't have to look far to see the potential the Vikings have here. They are extremely young on offense and need to shore up a very porous defensive team. Key pieces return on the offense, but the defense, especially in the defensive backfield, still need some work. This season will begin at home against the NAIA's Eastern Oregon on Thursday.

11. Weber State Wildcats---The Wildcats are another team that wants to show last season was just a fluke. However, they are quite young and rebuilding. There is some talent and leadership but the Wildcats will need a quick influx to contend this year. They will begin this rebuilding on Saturday against the Southland's own Stephen F Austin.

12. UC-Davis Aggies---The Aggies do have their starting quarterback returning but not much else. Even their longtime head coach has stepped down. Help is needed all over the team, but they should grow as the season moves forward. Clearly a rebuilding project this season. It will begin on the road on Saturday at the Missouri Valley's South Dakota team.

13. Idaho State Bengals---You play with fire, likely you will get burned. The Bengals have the most intense coach the conference has seen, yet the talent level seems to be lacking. A major turnaround is expected here but one cannot expect it to happen overnight. It will take time. So much that they are not starting the year until next weekend against Dixie State.

RECAP: 1-4 really close, 5-7 just a step behind. 8-9 a little bit further, followed by 10-11 a ways off, and 12-13 off the pace.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Good to have you back Jalmond!

[AZGrizFan]

I thought I read somewhere that Cal Poly had 18 starters returning?

[kalm]

I thought I read somewhere that Cal Poly had 18 starters returning?

This. But I like the rest of it.

[JALMOND]

I thought I read somewhere that Cal Poly had 18 starters returning?

A bunch comes back on defense, however they need to find replacements for both Williams and Broadous. Most of the leaders in the conference have one hole to fill, Cal Poly has two.

[AZGrizFan]

Montana
Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
UND
NAU
SUU
Sac St
PSU
UC Davis
Weber
ISU

[grizzaholic]

Montana
Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
UND
NAU
SUU
Sac St
PSU
UC Davis
Weber
ISU

[Grizalltheway]

Montana
Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
UND
NAU
SUU
Sac St
PSU
UC Davis
Weber
ISU

+1 on these.

[kalm]

Montana
Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
UND
NAU
SUU
Sac St
PSU
UC Davis
Weber
ISU

+1 on these.

[SloStang]

I thought I read somewhere that Cal Poly had 18 starters returning?

A bunch comes back on defense, however they need to find replacements for both Williams and Broadous. Most of the leaders in the conference have one hole to fill, Cal Poly has two.

Deonte's backup last year was Kristaan Ivory and he rushed for over 700 and scored 10 TDs. He averaged more yards a carry than Deonte.

[EWURanger]

Montana
Cal Poly
MSU
EWU
UND
NAU
SUU
Sac St
PSU
UC Davis
Weber
ISU

+1 on these.

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

[Grizalltheway]

+1 on these.

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

Of course.

[EWURanger]

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

Of course.

So if MSU went 5-6 last year, but looked like they had a really good team going into this season you would have no issues putting them in the #1 spot?

My point is, to some extent you have to take the previous year's record into account. Of course it's not everything, but it does factor in somewhere.


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[AZGrizFan]

+1 on these.

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

If we weren't getting jj back I wouldn't have us in the top 6.

[kalm]

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

If we weren't getting jj back I wouldn't have us in the top 6.

If JJ hadn't missed a year I' might have you in the top 3.

[grizzaholic]

Of course.

So if MSU went 5-6 last year, but looked like they had a really good team going into this season you would have no issues putting them in the #1 spot?

My point is, to some extent you have to take the previous year's record into account. Of course it's not everything, but it does factor in somewhere.


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[EWURanger]

So if MSU went 5-6 last year, but looked like they had a really good team going into this season you would have no issues putting them in the #1 spot?

My point is, to some extent you have to take the previous year's record into account. Of course it's not everything, but it does factor in somewhere.


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Damnit.


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[EWURanger]

If it were someone other than Montana, would you place a team that finished 5-6 the previous year at the #1 spot?

From the original post, Montana, UND too high, Cal Poly too low.

If we weren't getting jj back I wouldn't have us in the top 6.

Really? I would.


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[AZGrizFan]

If we weren't getting jj back I wouldn't have us in the top 6.

Really? I would.


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I'd have EWU, MSU, CP, UND, NAU & MSU above us.

[Grizalltheway]

Damnit.


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All (alleged) fishing aside, I would at least have us above NAU right now, and probably even MSU (people seem to be completely discounting how badly they've been bitten by the injury bug already). I'd say it's a toss-up between us and Eastern for top spot at the moment.

[EWURanger]

Really? I would.


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I'd have EWU, MSU, CP, UND, NAU & MSU above us.

Montana is easily a top 5 BSC team even without Johnson and getting him back improves Montana's position. I don't know if it makes UM the team to beat, though. I mean, if you look at last year there were issues (poor coaching, secondary play) that were bigger problems than which QB was playing IMO. Now those issues may very well have been fixed in the off-season, but that has very little to do with Johnson. If the issues from last year have been remedied then I would say UM is in a very strong position and getting Johnson back is a bonus. Sure, his game management skills will help out a lot, but it's not like the UM offense is predicated on the Qb making a bunch of difficult throws. The offense is built around the OL and the run game. Any competent Qb should be successful in that system.


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[Brock Landers]

Competent being the key word

[Grizalltheway]

Competent being the key word

No shit. The thing that makes JJ such a game changer in this system is the fact that defenses can't just key up on the run game; they'll also have to worry about him throwing down field to some pretty talented receivers, or taking off and running it himself.

[AZGrizFan]

I'd have EWU, MSU, CP, UND, NAU & MSU above us.

Montana is easily a top 5 BSC team even without Johnson and getting him back improves Montana's position. I don't know if it makes UM the team to beat, though. I mean, if you look at last year there were issues (poor coaching, secondary play) that were bigger problems than which QB was playing IMO. Now those issues may very well have been fixed in the off-season, but that has very little to do with Johnson. If the issues from last year have been remedied then I would say UM is in a very strong position and getting Johnson back is a bonus. Sure, his game management skills will help out a lot, but it's not like the UM offense is predicated on the Qb making a bunch of difficult throws. The offense is built around the OL and the run game. Any competent Qb should be successful in that system.


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Montana's problems last year centered around 2 issues:

1) lack of a competent QB; but more importantly
2) lack of a competent OC.

Rosenbach unplugged and/or was unable to make halftime adjustments...the offense became predictable and 2nd half production was much worse than 1st half (game) production. This caused the defense to wear down, resulting in a lot of games which we led going down to the wire and being dependent on an exhausted defense to close it out...something they were unable to do 6 times.

Having receivers able to stretch the field, and a QB who can actually HIT the receiver to make the long ball an actual threat in the offense will help stretch the defense and open up the running game. Moving to more "under center" type plays, with quasi-heavy sets will allow our massive O-line to punish defenses and eat up clock. Our defense will remain fresher, and a new (more agressive) approach will limit the soft covers and improve overall performance.

JJ alone makes us win 3 of the 6 losses last year...the other changes (and a year of experience for the entire team) get us 2 more.

Griz are the team to beat. AGAIN.

[Screamin_Eagle174]

Griz are the team to beat. AGAIN.