MISSOULA – Montana football coach Bobby Hauck didn’t mince words when asked about the Grizzlies’ offensive line.
“I think it’s an area of major concern, that’s what I think,” Hauck said at Monday’s press conference.
“It’s hard to pretend up there. You either block people or you don’t,” he added. “We need to block people. If you don’t block people, you don’t get plays going and you don’t generate yards and points, and you lose games.”
The Griz offensive line comes into 2018 with a handful of underclassmen and returns just one starter in Angel Villanueva. Although Hauck sees the line as a major concern and Villanueva knows they are young, the confidence doesn’t waiver.
“We’re also confident because of our training. (Offensive line coach Chad Germer) has done a good job just coaching us up, showing us what it kind of means to play our position and what we need to accomplish in order to be successful as a unit,”said Villanueva. “So I think we’re feeling good, confident. We’re ready,”
Fans will have to wait until Saturday night at Washington-Grizzly Stadium to see what the offensive line and the rest of the Grizzlies can do against No. 12 Northern Iowa.
“I am so excited. The fans make it worthwhile. (I’m) excited to be out there, excited to represent and excited to show this university what we can do,” said Villanueva.
Saturday’s kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. in Missoula. It’s the only top-25 FCS matchup in the nation.
