Analysis

Choate wants to eliminate past defensive tendencies, emphasize versatility

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Only Tyrone Holmes, Montana’s menacing defensive end and the 2015 FCS Defensive Player of the Year, notched more tackles than Mac Bignell last season.

Bignell, Montana State’s fast-twitch, knifing outside linebacker had a breakout sophomore year in his first season as a starter. The 6-foot, 195-pound former walk-on out of Drummond notched 20.5 tackles for loss last season, just one less than Holmes despite playing in two less games.

Bignell might’ve lived in the backfield but Montana State’s defense never gained traction. The Bobcats scored at least 35 points in 10 games yet posted just a 5-6 record. The defense gave up explosive plays far too often and opponents executed game plans at will against MSU. The poor performance resulted in Rob Ash’s firing and Jeff Choate’s hiring. The feast or famine defense stuck out to Choate right away.

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Photos by Brooks Nuanez. All Rights Reserved. 

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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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