Big Sky Conference

Choate likes defensive response during Sonny Holland spring game

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Following the Triangle Classic spring football game in Great Falls, Jeff Choate implored his Montana State defense to feel one emotion: embarrassment.

The much-maligned Bobcat defense gave up a slew of big plays, including seven touchdown passes thrown by three different quarterbacks as the MSU offense owned the day in the Electric City.

Montana State safety Tanner Hoff tackles wide receiver Mitch Herbert

MSU safety Tanner Hoff tackles wide receiver Mitch Herbert

Six days later on a chilly Bozeman night at Bobcat Stadium, the Bobcat defense showed some resolve, rebounding with seven stops, including a shutout by the first-team defense as MSU’s reworked unit seemed to make progress during the final performance of spring drills.

“I think they responded,” Choate said following the first full-fledged spring game of his tenure at Montana State. “To start things out to not give up anything in the two-minute period and with the exception of the last throw down there, to hold up in the red zone was pretty good. The 1st didn’t give up any so that was a pleasant thing to see.”

During the “play it” period, the Bobcat offenses started from their own 30-yard line and played until they were stopped. The first-team offense began one series with a 26-yard reception by junior Mitch Herbert on a nicely thrown ball from junior transfer quarterback Tyler Bruggman. On another series, senior running back Chad Newell ripped off a 22-yard run, the longest of the evening, to get the offense into the defensive territory. Both times, the MSU second-team defense responded by eventually forcing turnovers on downs.

“We didn’t give up a lot of explosive plays, which was something we did on Saturday in Great Falls. That was a step in the right direction,” Choate said. “We know we have a lot of work to do but there is no such thing as a finished product anyway. Even if we had a veteran group or the young guys trying to learn a new system, we know we have a lot of work to do over the course of the summer. These kids have bought into what we’ve asked them to do. The foundation is set. We have to go build on it.”

MSU head coach Jeff Choate throws punt drill balls

MSU head coach Jeff Choate throws punt drill balls

Although the defense notched seven stops, the offense technically won the spring game by a score of 30-21. The offense received six points for each touchdown and reached the end zone four times. Redshirt freshman kicker Devin Tandberg also converted field goals of 43 and 39 yards. The defense received three points for each of its seven stops.

“I thought it was a good mix,” Choate said. “We were very, very basic really on both sides of the line of scrimmage by design. We weren’t running a lot of exotic stuff. It was curl-flat combinations, verticals, basic run plays. We really only called about four calls on defense. At times, when those guys needed to reset the line of scrimmage, they were able to do that. We have some work to do on the defensive line, we know that and we are thin there but we will get some help and we will be ready to go in the fall.”

The “clutch” portion of the scrimmage kicked off the action as each the first and second team offenses started with the ball on the far 40-yard line and 1:35 on the clock. Redshirt freshman Marcus Ferriter beat classmate right tackle Mitch Brott around the edge for a sack on the second play of the night. Bruggman hit redshirt freshman Keon Stephens with two straight passes but the first-team offense could not make up the 15-yard loss.

With redshirt freshman Brady McChesney, a former Class AA Offensive MVP from Kalispell Glacier, at quarterback for the second-team offense, MSU faced a fourth down and short near midfield. Junior Nick LaSane lowered his shoulder but was met in the hole by senior middle linebacker Fletcher Collins for no gain, forcing a turnover on downs. The big hit was one of three crushing blows laid by Collins to deny LaSane and the second-team offense short-yardage conversions.

MSU quarterback Tyler Bruggman

MSU quarterback Tyler Bruggman

“He’s had a great spring,” Choate said of Collins. “That’s a guy who has battled injuries throughout his career but he has a chance to go out and do it as a senior. He’s emerged as a leader on that side of the ball. He’s performed consistently well throughout the spring.”

The offense got on track during the “play it” period as Bruggman found Herbert, redshirt freshman wide receiver Cam Sutton and sophomore tight end Curtis Amos for long gains. Amos’ reception netted 23 yards on a third and 25, setting up Newell’s short-yardage fourth down conversion to get the offense inside the 10 for the first time. Three players later, Bruggman found Will Krolick for a five-yard touchdown on a slant route out of the slot.

On the next possession, redshirt freshman Ben Folsom found Krolick on a deep post but junior safety Khari Garcia exploded for the hit of the night, leveling Krolick, knocking the ball loose and leaving the senior wide receiver shaken up.

“There was some popping going on,” Choate said. “I thought Khari brought a physical presence today.”

Montana State’s other touchdowns came on a 13-yard burst by Newell during the long red-zone period in which the offense started at the defensive 28; a 10-yard touchdown on a fullback trap play by LaSane during the short red-zone period in which the offense started 10 yards from the goal line; and Krolick’s second touchdown of the evening from seven yards out on a short route thrown by McChesney.

“Krolick can do a lot of things for us,” Choate said of the walk-on from Anchorage, Alaska. “He’s a very reliable guy. He can play multiple positions. He’s going to be a great special teams player. And he’s a great story. You talk about a guy who has worked hard to improve his ability level and takes a lot of pride in being here. It’s like he told me, everybody thinks he’s here because of the engineering degree but really, he loves football. You see that in him and it’s awesome to see him go out and maximize his chances.”

MSU running back Gunnar Brekke hits the edge with running back Chad Newell lead blocking

MSU running back Gunnar Brekke hits the edge with running back Chad Newell lead blocking

Ferriter, Fletcher Collins, Grant Collins, Joe Naotala and Tyrone Fa’anono notched touch sacks for the defense. Redshirt freshman cornerback Chris Harris had a pair of pass breakups while Braelen Evans, Bryce Alley and Tre’Von Strong all had PBUs as well.

“We are sitting on togetherness, team camaraderie and I’m happy with tonight,” MSU junior defensive tackle Matt Brownlow said during an interview on the Bobcat Radio Network following the action. “We came out strong. We were physical up front. Our back seven played to the best of their abilities. You can’t get down on any guys. It was a hard-nosed battle between offense and defense. We pushed each other to the extremes.”

The Sonny Holland marks the final performance for the Bobcats this spring, but the team will engage in one final non-contact practice on Monday. The goal during Monday’s session is to line out the things Choate wants the players to carry over into the summer in an effort to get a head start on fall camp in August. He will give the players specifics for player-run practices throughout the upcoming off-season as he prepares for his first campaign as a Division I head coach in the fall of 2016.

“You never get everything done you need to get done, but I am pleased with where we are at, the kids’ willingness to take the coaching we are giving them, understanding the structure and the discipline we need to have to be successful,” Choate said. “I think we’ve laid the foundation for these guys to go out and take some ownership of the thing in the summer and really work hard to elevate their play in the fall.”

Montana State installed a good amount of schematics on both sides of the football. The Bobcats determined a rough depth chart entering the summer and identified positions where the team needs help. A handful of potential prospects were on recruiting visits at Bobcat Stadium on Friday night.

MSU safety Bryson McCabe stiff arms tight end Connor Sullivan in a punt return drill

MSU safety Bryson McCabe stiff arms tight end Connor Sullivan in a punt return drill

Choate and his coaching staff’s main objective, more than Xs and Os or installation, was to revamp the culture of the MSU program this spring. Choate preached energy and intensity day in and day out, constantly challenging players on an individual, group and team basis. The players have responded well thus far.

“We are finally alive,” Brownlow said. “Our program is alive and thriving. You see guys who are excited to go to class. I can’t believe I’d ever catch myself saying that. It’s one of those things Coach Choate has implemented. We’ve switched up the locker room. We have inner-city LA guys next to small-town Montana guys. We are building that camaraderie. Intensity-wise, it’s 100 percent every day of the week. Are you above the line or below the line? Choate believes that and you have to wake up and make that decision each day. If you are going to be a below the line guy, he’s going to give it to you or you aren’t going to be here. Period.

“In the past, we have been in cliques. Now everyone is mixed up. You don’t see color, you don’t see positions. You just see brothers.”

About Colter Nuanez

Colter Nuanez is the co-founder and senior writer for Skyline Sports. After spending six years in the newspaper industry with stops at the Missoulian, the Ellensburg Daily Record and the Bozeman Daily Chronicle, the former Washington Newspaper Association Sportswriter of the Year and University of Montana Journalism School graduate ('09) has cultivated a deep passion for sports journalism during his 13-year career covering the Big Sky Conference. In August of 2014, Colter and brother Brooks merged their passions of writing and art to found Skyline Sports.

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