Co-Coordinators looking to make more history with Grizzly Defense

Co-Coordinators looking to make more history with Grizzly Defense

8/15/2024 1:03:00 PM | Football

By: Montana Sports Information

For the first time, perhaps ever at the University of Montana, the Grizzlies will have two defensive coordinators on the headsets and calling the shots come gameday, and its familiar territory for both.

In 2023, Montana rolled out one of the best overall defenses – not only in the FCS, but in Griz football history – under Ronnie Bradford, who now plies his trade in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins.

Replacing him in 2024 are Roger Cooper and Tim Hauck, two key cogs of last year's D that now assume co-coordinator duties, and one thing is certain. It can't be said they don't understand the history behind UM's traditionally salty defense and the importance of moving it forward.

Hauck, who coaches safeties, brought a super bowl ring back to Missoula with him as a defensive analyst in 2023, and has Montana in his blood. He is, after all, one of the top defenders in program history, and one of the originators of UM's famed #37 tradition.

Cooper, the linebacker coach, has been on UM's staff since 2022 and previously served as the defensive coordinator at Idaho State – either by himself or as a Co-DC - for nearly a decade. How fired up is the former Bobcat to lead the Montana defense? Fired up enough to have a tattoo of a Grizzly bear on his leg.

Together they're faced with the tall task of replicating a defense that allowed just 108 rushing yards per game, took 24 turnovers, and gave up just 17 points per game – all top 10 marks in the FCS.

They're also tasked with replacing NFL-caliber All-Americans like Braxton Hill at linebacker and Alex Gubner on the defensive line. Such is life in the world of college football, where teams start each year with new faces and new expectations.

Nowhere are those expectations higher than in the Grizzly coach offices, meeting rooms, and practice field, where Hauck and Cooper have been leading their charges together through fall camp as they prepare for the season opener on Aug. 31 against Missouri State.

They'll both be up in the box and on the headset when the Griz and Bears kick the season off under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and for them, two heads are better than one.

"(Being the Co-DC) is not a whole lot different than what I did as an analyst. Last year Ronnie and I were up and both on the headsets. I'm more involved in coaching the safeties this year, but game day is similar," said Hauck.

"Everybody has a responsibility on game day. Coop will be looking at the front side and I'll look at the back end. My job is finding the best way to have our back-end line up, play fast, and make plays."

For Cooper, the new job brings with it new pressure, but teaming up with Hauck to guide the defense also brings new opportunity, and a whole lot of fun.

"The pressure means that people expect things out of you. That makes my job fun. A lot of people are looking for direction and I'd say that pressure is a good thing. So far, it's been a lot of fun." he said.

"To see this defense from the back end all the way down to the D-line, seeing the whole picture makes it even more fun. So, I've enjoyed (working with Hauck) thoroughly."

Despite their different backgrounds, they know good D when they see it. Fans can rest assured the calling card of a Hauck/Cooper defense will be no different than it has been for decades around Missoula, and it can be summed up in two words: Montana Tough.

"Physical, smart, and more than anything really good tacklers," said Hauck, who embodied that philosophy as a player and coach, both at UM and in the NFL.

Cooper was a bit more loquacious in his assessment, but it boils down to the same thing.

"I think when you watch us on film the first thing you see is our physicality and our effort. That erases a lot of mistakes. You don't always have to be perfect, but when you're playing harder, you're tougher, running to the ball, that can clean up a lot. And when you put good players in good situations, they tend to make great plays. We're built on that physicality and toughness," he said.

Now 10 practices into fall camp and the two have had plenty of opportunity to access their side of the ball. So far, they like what they see. And why shouldn't they?

True, Montana lost some studs. That just provides opportunity for the next great Grizzly defenders to put their hands up and make a name for themselves. Guys like linebackers Ryan Tirrell and Riley Wilson, both future pro prospects with the size and athleticism to match that have stood out at fall camp, among others.

Then you have a crop of newcomers, transfers brought in to fill specific holes like tackle Pat Hayden of Monmouth, Andres Lehrmann of Youngstown State at end, and Vai Kaho of San Diego State at linebacker. Hired guns with one season left to make a big impression.

"So far, so good," said Cooper of the defenses progress at fall camp.

"There's been good competition. I feel like the offense is multiple in their looks, skilled, and they play hard so that only makes us better. We're getting a lot of reps. Returners, new guys and young guys are all getting a lot of reps, and I'm seeing improvement day to day. So. I'd say so far so good."

Hauck also has a mix of veteran Grizzlies and experienced transfers to work with in the defensive secondary. Trevin Gradney, who led the league and the entire FCS for much of the season in interceptions is back with the #37 jersey on his back. Safety Ryder Meyer, the team's leading returning tackler with 91 stops as a junior, is also back to marshal the secondary.

Added to the mix is Chrishawn Gordon, a safety out of Fresno State that has impressed through spring and summer. As have a pair of cornerbacks in Kenzel Lawler from Utah and Prince Ford from Illinois, whose brother Justin Ford was a Grizzly all-time great.

"We got a lot of familiar faces, of guys we've worked with, and we've got a good mix of transfers that are going to have to work their way into the mix. And I like what I see. We got a long way to go, and we got a lot of hard work to put in before game one, and hopefully it's a similar deal that we see improvement week in and week out," said Hauck.

Since Bobby Hauck returned in 2018, Montana has run a 3-3-5 base defense – a versatile formation he picked up from the legendary Rocky Long at San Diego State that has roots with Brian Urlacher and New Mexico in the 90's.

With a healthy mix of new and old faces in this year's defense, that versatility should once again help Cooper and Hauck put the right mix of athletes in the right places on the field. Simplifying the transition to a new season while at the same time continuing to give opposing offenses fits.

"In some fronts and coverages and some schemes you're kind of locked into those fronts and coverages. But when it comes to our defense, we can kind of clip the corners to the puzzle pieces and everything fits together. We can tailor that puzzle piece to that game plan, the offenses we see. Take your best players and put them in positions to make plays," said Cooper.

With the ability to fit personnel to positions in the defense and put the best players on the field and give them the chance to make plays, there is really only one uncertainty in this year's defense. Who's going to be "the guy?"

"We lost a lot of seniors, and we've got a lot of seniors coming back. So, I would just say we need guys to step up to replace the guys we lost probably more in the leadership role," said Tim Hauck.

"We do so much stuff that it's not just pure talent. A lot of it is want to, know how, and technique. So, I think that helps the guys that have not played a lot of snaps in a football game to go out and execute, as long as they're sound in what they do."

IT ALL STARTS UP FRONT: With the loss of Gubner to the two-time world champion Kansas City Chiefs, one of the biggest puzzle pieces is the D-line. Luckily the Griz have some names back that didn't see much of the field last year and could make a big impact.

Henry Nuce of Kalispell missed most of the year to injury, only to storm back to the field and log a sack, forced fumble, and five tackles in the postseason run. Also back is Noah Kaschmitter, a big, strong inside guy that Bobby Hauck has alluded to as potentially one of UM's top overall defenders, no matter what position.

With those two out for much of the season, Hayden Harris picked up steam and was one of UM's most productive D-linemen as the season wore on, finishing his first year in Missoula with 32 tackles, 4.5 TFLs, a pair of sacks and a pair of pass breakups. Harris, who came to UM from UCLA, has looked especially dangerous in fall camp as he starts his final year of eligibility.

Sophomore tackle Jareb Ramos, who was a star in the spring game two years ago, has also seen considerable reps during fall camp and could be a name to watch for the future.

#LBU: While Tirrell and Wilson have the preseason accolades – both rated highly by PFF as future pro prospects – Montana's tradition of linebacker excellence will have fresh faces across the board this season.

Wilson led the team in sacks last year with 8.5 and earned a place on the Buchanan Award watchlist heading into his junior year. That was as a primary backup as a sophomore.

Now the Griz have three starters to replace, and those two look to be shoe-ins early in camp. Cooper Barnum is another guy with football in his blood as the son of Portland State head coach Bruce Barnum. He's made the transition from baseball player, to safety, to linebacker, and will play a big role in UM's backer rotation.

Isiah Childs is another position switch that could pay off for the Griz, coming over from running back and using his speed as a weapon at linebacker. He earned preseason all-conference honors at special teams and has looked good in fall camp as well.

A little leaner and meaner following his first spring with the Griz, Kaho also looks to be an impact player with FBS experience while his former teammate at San Diego State Caleb Otlewski, a freshman from Texas originally, is a physical specimen that will be a future standout.

DYNAMIC DBs: Known quantities like Meyer and Gradney will once again be household names for the Griz secondary in 2024. Losses of guys like Nash Fouch, TraJon Cotton and Corbin Walker also mean that someone will hear his name called, maybe for the first time over the PA at Washington-Grizzly Stadium.

Ronald Jackson logged 23 tackles, a pick, and three pass breakups at corner in his first year at UM after coming in from Akron. As perhaps the fastest guy on the team he's going play a big role in his junior season.

Missoula product TJ Rausch has also made the transition from special teams standout to role player as he enters his junior year, and at 6-foot-3 is expected to be a physical presence at safety.

Jaxon Lee is another local that is poised for big things this season. He came on strong last year and graded out as perhaps UM's best DB toward the end of the season, finishing with 49 tackles, 3.5 TFLs and two scores – a fumble return and a pick-six.

Overall, Montana's mix of veterans and newcomers will have big shoes to fill, no question about it. But the key message from the co-coordinators is: don't look back. The Griz put up legendary numbers in 2023 and as soon as the clock hit :00 in the FCS championship, the page was turned to 2024.

"We've talked to the guys about that. The minute that game was over, none of that stuff is going to help us," said Cooper.

"You were great last year, but that doesn't mean anything this year. So, the standard has been set, and now every day we're trying to get back to that standard."