Best Griz D ever?

By CARL HENNELL

The Daily Inter Lake

There's talk around western Montana that this year's University of Montana football team has the best defensive unit in recent Griz history.

Sure, coming off a game in which the unit allowed just 92 offensive yards against one of the nation's best offenses makes it easier to accept. And Wednesday's addition of defensive end Kroy Biermann to the Buck Buchanon Award list, just a couple of weeks after defensive end Mike Murphy was taken off the list, gives the unit an identity to rival the 2000 unit with Helena's Andy Petek, the 2001 unit with Libby's Vince Huntsberger and Anaconda's Ciche Pitcher, and the 2002 squad with Trey Young and Tim Bush.

But for some Montana fans, they may have a hard time believing these kids deserve that accolade. Especially with visions of northwest Montana's Josh Remington, Sean Goicoechea and Blaine McElmurry in the defensive secondary with Missoula's Mike Bouchee, Helena's Jason Crebo and Columbus' Greg Fitzgerald as the linebacking corps in the 1995 and 1996 national championship games. … And what about the Butte connection of Randy Riley and Briane Toone in the defensive front sacking Marshall quarterback Chad Pennington for a safety and game-winning points in the '95 chipper?

That 1995 defense allowed 114.7 rushing yards per game along with 195.9 passing yards per game, registered 58 sacks (3.9 per game) and posted ridiculously-lopsided shutouts in the first two rounds of the playoffs. But it was 1996 defense that set the bar for sacks with 64 sacks (4.3 per game) and the 2000 defense, led by Huntsberger's 106 tackles, was the stingiest in allowing yards (81.5 rypg, 184.4 pypg).

This year's Griz are allowing 101.9 rushing and 158.4 passing yards per game but have just 16 sacks (2.0 per game).

So the numbers say, yes, this year's Griz pass defense is, by far, better than any of the teams that played for the national championship - in terms of passing yards allowed.

"You can tell they have a lot to play for right now," Idaho State quarterback Matt Guttierrez said. "They are going after it. They caused us problems throughout the game."

The Griz run defense ranks third in the caliber of UM teams that played for the national championship - and it is just one yard from ranking second.

Of course, all this talk stems a game after allowing just 46 rushing yards and 46 passing yards to ISU.

"Our defensive gameplan wasn't real complex," UM coach Bobby Hauck said after the ISU win. "But it was well thought out. Kraig (Paulsen, the defensive coordinator) and the guys had a real nice plan. Kraig had a real good mix on what he was calling in certain downs and distances, where a week ago Weber State had the edge on us as far as having the right calls at the right defenses. But (Saturday), Kraig had them all right. He dialed up a great game."

Although the Grizzlies pass rush as been reason for concern, registering just seven sacks in the first five games, it is coming around. In the last three games, the Griz have tallied 10 sacks for a 3.3 sacks per game average. If that average keeps up, they would be ranked in the top four of UM teams that appeared in the national title game.

"We looked at (UM's lack of sacks) as maybe an advantage coming into the game," ISU coach Larry Lewis said after Saturday loss. "But Montana pinned their ears back and mixed it up and did a very good job. They had it dialed in. We'll look at the film and see, but we weren't looking at as many mistakes as getting physically beat in a couple of positions - especially in the pass rush."

There is no doubting who the leaders are for the Griz D. Biermann leads the team in sacks (5), tackles for losses (7), forced fumbles (2) and fumble recoveries (2). He ranks second in pass breakups (5) and fourth in tackles (43).

Linebackers Kyle Ryan, Tyler Joyce and Loren Utterback are Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in tackles with 64, 60 and 51, respectively. Joyce leads the team in pass breakups (6). Defensive end Dustin Dlouhy leads the team in tackles for losses (6). Ryan has four, Utterback has 3 1/2 and cornerback Muckie Foreman has four. Dlouhy is second in the team in sacks (4) and sixth in tackles (35). Strong safety Colt Anderson is tied with Biermann in tackles with 43.

… And eight of the team's top 12 tacklers are from Montana.