Griz look for answers at scrimmage
At the conclusion of spring drills, the Montana Grizzlies may not have all the answers to their considerable questions on offense, but they should be a lot closer.
The Griz hold their annual spring game at 1 p.m. today at Polson High School.
Among the many unknowns on offense, who will replace Craig Ochs at quarterback is the most pressing. Transfer Jason Washington has yet to take control of the position as had been hoped. Redshirt freshman Cole Bergquist has been Washington's primary competition.
"From a quarterbacking standpoint I wish we had another 10 practices, because those two have improved almost on a daily basis" UM coach Bobby Hauck said in a statement released by the university.
"Jason and Cole are competing hard. They got a pretty good grasp of what we are trying to accomplish offensively. This last week-and-a-half they've really started to transfer from the chalkboard and the meeting room to their performances on the field, and it's been fun to watch that improvement."
After deciding who will throw the ball, figuring out who will catch it is next on the list. Gone are Levander Segars, Jefferson Heidelberger, Tate Hancock and Willie Walden, four of Montana's top six receivers from last season.
Jon Talmage is the lone holdover, plus tight end Ja'Ton Simpson saw action as a reserve.
Competing for playing time are transfer Eric Allen, sophomore Ryan Bagley, and redshirt freshmen Mike Ferriter, Matt Troxel and Rob Schulte.
Also in the mix are Jake Larson and Kalispell's Brandon Dwyer.
"From a workout standpoint, we've had a good spring," Hauck said. "I think the effort level by all of our players has been superb. We've had good concentration and focus every day in practice.
"I am excited about what we got done this spring. We've improved fundamentally, and therefore we have improved as a football team."
One position that has no intrigue is running back, where former Flathead High star Lex Hilliard is entrenched as the No. 1 guy. Hilliard led the Griz in rushing last season splitting time with Justin Green. As the season wore on, Hilliard became the go-to option with his explosive speed and is poised for a monster year as the featured back.
"I think this will probably be the fastest team that we've put on the field in the last three years," Hauck said.
The offensive line remains virtually intact from last season, with only tackle Cory Procter having moved on. More than anything, spring drills have allowed Montana to develop some depth.
The defense lost five starters - three defensive linemen and two linebackers, but the Griz played so many guys regularly last year, that their losses won't be as difficult to fill as on offense.
"Our defense looks solid," defensive coordinator Kraig Paulson said. "Our big deal was to improve in every phase, and we've done that. We improved in both our run and pass defense and we'll have a good impetus going into fall camp this August. Our secondary play has been excellent."
Montana had its share of problems early in the season last year when it came to defending the pass. The secondary was filled with freshmen and sophomores, and the inexperience showed. But by the end of the season, it had matured into a respectable unit.
The defensive line, particularly inside at the two tackle spots, is the biggest question mark for Paulson with Blake Horgan, John Cahill and Jonny Varona having used up their eligibility.
"Our front has worked hard, and (senior tackle) Alan Saenz has had a very good spring," Paulson said. "At linebacker, (sophomores) Loren Utterback and Kyle Ryan have both played well."
Activities surrounding the spring game start at 10 a.m. with the Grizzly Scholarship Association hosting a tailgate party at Boettcher Park. A bus will shuttle fans from the party to the game at 1 p.m. Ticket prices are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
After the scrimmage there will be a postgame barbecue at the Polson Country Club.
"We were in Polson a couple of years ago for our final scrimmage and they did a great job and we had a lot of fun with the people there," Hauck said. "They are very enthused to have us and we are excited to be there."